Forcing turnovers seemed like an optional activity for the Giants defense in 2024.

They were 28th in the NFL with 15 takeaways, lowlighted by coming away with just five interceptions.

So defensive coordinator Shane Bowen has added a turnover chest to the sideline.

It is an actual chest, and it is opened amid celebration — the ball is deposited into the chest — when a player forces a turnover in practice.

The inspiration came from his son, who is in his first year playing T-ball.

The name of the team is the Pirates.

“We got to get better at takeaways,” Bowen said. “Somehow got the idea of piracy, violent, attacking to steal possessions or goods, right?

“You’ll hear our guys say it. I say it ad nauseam: ‘Be a damn pirate.’ We got to find ways to get the ball. And, again, you get what you emphasize. We’re making it a priority this year to make sure we find ways to get the ball.”

Russell Wilson has to take care of himself before he can take care of someone else.

That essentially is his take on his role with the Giants and the mentor role so many veteran QBs are asked to define when there is a hotshot rookie sharing a spot in the position room.

So, does Wilson consider himself a mentor to Jaxson Dart?

“I’ve always viewed it as, you’re always trying to be the best version of you, and then you’re always giving back to everybody else,” Wilson said Thursday after organized team activity practice No. 6.

“I think that it’s not just about one teammate, it’s about all the teammates. It’s about everybody in the building.

“It’s about from all the way to the quarterback room, to the receivers, to the running backs, to the tight ends, to the O-line, and the relationship there, all the way to the defensive line, to the corners, and all the way to the training room.

“So it’s like, to me, it’s all-inclusive, and that’s always the approach.”

Wilson, 36, is the starter, and he has a completely new offense to learn.

When he signed a one-year contract worth $10.5 million — with incentives that could double the deal — the other quarterbacks on the roster were newly signed backup Jameis Winston and returnee Tommy DeVito.

The Giants traded up into the first round of the draft to get Dart, with every expectation he is their future starter.

“Jaxson’s been great,” Wilson said. “He’s a great worker, great teammate. We’re having fun, all of us. We have a really good quarterback room. Guys are so focused and working diligently every day. He’s going to be an extremely, extremely good talent and everything else throughout his career.”

Dart was the second quarterback to get reps after Wilson.

Evan Neal and Jake Kubas were the guards with the starting offense, with light work for Jon Runyan Jr. and Greg Van Roten. … Safety Dane Belton, having a strong spring, intercepted Wilson — Belton’s third interception in six practices. A lob from Dart was intercepted by CB Tre Hawkins.

Rookie DT Darius Alexander did not practice because of an undisclosed injury.