The New York Giants are entering what will likely be a bridge year in 2019, as Eli Manning is going into the final year of his deal and appears destined to clear the way for Daniel Jones.

As a result, the Giants likely won't be contending for much of anything this season, but with a roster that unquestionably has some intriguing young talent, New York should at least be somewhat entertaining.

The Giants will open up their preseason against the New York Jets on Thursday night, meaning we will likely get to see Jones playing against real NFL competition for the first time.

So, here are three things to watch in the Giants' first preseason game.

3. The Pass Rush

Pat Shurmur, Giants
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The Giants finished with just 30 sacks this past season, which ranked second-to-last in the league. For a team that has historically been known for having a good pass rush, that's something that needs to change.

Of course, New York doesn't exactly have a ton of proven talent defensively, as it will be relying heavily on youngsters like rookie defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence to generate pressure.

One thing you do have to say about the Giants' defense is that it is full of young talent, so maybe in a couple of years, it can become something, but right now, it is incredibly raw, and we have no idea where the pass rush is going to come from.

We might get a glimpse of that on Thursday.

2. Can the Offensive Line Protect the Quarterback?

Eli Manning, Giants
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A big reason for the Giants' struggles on offense this past year was their shoddy offensive line, as Pro Football Focus ranked their offensive line 21st in the NFL for 2018.

However, the unit did play better during the second half of the season, and New York did pick up former Cleveland Browns guard Kevin Zeitler to try and shore up the interior.

There is no question that the offensive line is still an issue, however, with a bunch of unproven guys still trying to find their way and/or stay healthy.

While we obviously won't know for sure the state of the Giants' offensive line after Thursday evening, we might at least get a general idea of whether or not it has improved from a year ago.

And remember: if New York plays Jones at all in 2019, adequate protection will be paramount.

1. Daniel Jones

Daniel Jones

The main attraction for the Giants in this game is Jones.

New York was ripped for taking him with the sixth overall pick back in April, as Jones did not have an incredibly productive collegiate career, and there have been some questions about his arm strength.

However, Jones has looked terrific this summer, as coaches and teammates have been raving about his showing in training camp and in offseason workouts.

Manning is pretty much guaranteed the opening day job, but Jones might end up seeing some action during the regular season if the Giants fall out of contention.

But, right now, the main thing is having Jones get off to a good start in preseason to establish his confidence moving forward. Of course, that will be tough with New York's receiving corps decimated by injuries.