EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The 2024 Giants gathered for the first time today to begin preparing for a regular season that begins in less than five months. The coaches, scouts and support staff have been in the building, planning for the season and next week's NFL Draft. Now they've been joined by the players for the start of the offseason conditioning program.

"It's a great day to have the players back," coach Brian Daboll said in a virtual news conference. "It's just you as a coaching staff and a lot of people have been out, but when it starts feeling a little like football, albeit four, five months away, but to have the players in and see them in the hallway, lunchroom, to interact with them, I think all the coaches are excited about the start of phase one."

Name tags might have been appropriate for today's proceedings, which served as a mass meet-and-greet. Since the end of the 2023 season, the Giants have signed 15 veteran free agents and added 10 new coaches, including those on the strength and conditioning staff.

"I have some of the new players stand up, introduce themselves," Daboll said. "Some of the new staff members introduce themselves. So, it's really just an introductory meeting to the phase one portion of the off-season program. That's where we are at. It's good to see the turnout that we've had."

Despite the significant turnover, Daboll, who is entering his 24th year as an NFL coach, said this was much like any other opening day of conditioning.

"It's the start of phase one," Daboll said of the program that continues through mid-June. "What we had is a squad meeting today and talked a little bit about the expectations for phase one for this particular next two weeks.

"I have strength and conditioning speak. I have Dr. Lani (Lawrence), our (director of wellness and clinical services) speak, I have (vice president of medical services) Ronnie Barnes speak. I have (director of football operations Ed) Triggs speak on kind of the rules of what's expected for these next two weeks. So, I have a bunch of departments I think are all important in terms of helping the players be the best they can be at this time of the year and make sure that if they have any questions, they can put a face with a name to get those answered. So, we're doing our job in terms of helping them in this first phase."

Though he declined to discuss specific players in detail, Daboll touched on several topics in his give-and-take with reporters.

*On what will be the most noticeable change in the weight room for the players who were here last season.

"There is a little turf area in the weight room," Daboll said. "The whole weight room is different. There is a different vibe in there. Some things we can do a little bit more in there for them. We've met here in the morning. They are out there working out right now. We'll get feedback and make sure we're doing everything we can do to help them be the best they can be.

"The weight room is set up a little bit differently, the configuration of it, trying to maximize our space and give those guys everything they need to perform their jobs. So, credit to the ownership for doing those type of things for the strength coaches and (general manager) Joe (Schoen). You know, it's a good start. Good to get everybody back in the building. I know that. There is a good vibe."

*On the progress of quarterback Daniel Jones, who was limited to six games last season because of a neck injury and a torn ACL that required surgery.

"It's day one of phase one," Daboll said. "He's making progress. I don't want to say further ahead or behind. He's doing everything we need him to do, hitting it head on and making strides."

Daboll was asked a follow-up question about whether Jones will be able to participate in any on-field drills this spring.

"It's day to day with these injuries," he said. "It's come in and be improved from where you were the day before, and I don't think too far ahead with that. He's been in meetings, rehabbing, doing his stuff.

"Tomorrow we'll see if we can do a little bit more and next day build off that. More of a day-to-day proposition for us. What's going to happen, two weeks, four weeks, I couldn't give that you answer right now."

*On tight end Darren Waller, who said he is contemplating retirement. Daboll would not say if Waller was in the building today.

"I just go back to our attendance," he said. "Was very happy and pleased with our attendance. In terms of Darren's specific situation, I'm going to keep that in-house and nothing to add at this time."

*The Giants have the sixth pick in the first round of the NFL Draft next week. Most mock drafts have quarterbacks getting selected with the first three picks and the Giants taking a wide receiver. But Daboll said plenty of intrigue and uncertainty is possible.

"I would say you never really know until you're right in the moment of the day of the draft," Daboll said. "Unless a trade happens before the draft. There is a lot of unknowns and uncertainties. You do the best job to prepare for it, and Joe has done a great job the last two years. He's doing a great job leading the staff and the meetings they have. You just have a great appreciation for the work that people put into it, whether inside or outside the building. It's time consuming.

"You might see something different than I see. Not that its wrong, but that's just the way it goes. The mock drafts, I look at them. I definitely look at them because there are probably some people that are communicating with other people, and they think this, and they think that. I don't know if the mock draft has ever been 100 percent in terms of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10. You trust your work of your evaluation, the people in your building, and then make the best decision for yourself."

*Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka is back for a third season, but the coordinators on defense (Shane Bowen) and special teams (Michael Ghobrial) are new to the team.

"Every year there is change, whether it's personnel, scheme, coaches, staff members. That's the NFL," Daboll said. "So certainly, there is some changes within the offense. Defense is obviously a little bit different with a new coordinator. Same with special teams. Again, it's day one. Those guys will have an opportunity. We'll build up slowly in the next two weeks to get ready for phase two.

"That's really the goal for phase one is to get them in here, get the physical stuff going. That's where I want them to spend most of their time in terms of the weight room and the strength coaches. You do have a bit of time to meet individually. That will be split up with position groups and position coaches. But there is a lot to learn. There always is every year, regardless of if someone is here or not."