Eluemunor thinks the Giants are “building something”
After years of bouncing between positions and teams, Jermaine Eluemunor may have finally found both stability and purpose in the trenches of the New York Giants’ offensive line.
As training camp unfolds in East Rutherford, the 30-year-old lineman has emerged as a steadying presence on the right side, energized by a clear role, fresh competition, and a personal mission to lead.
“This is actually the first offseason of my career where I’ve gotten to play one position,” Eluemunor said. “It’s been nice to truly hone in on my technique, just watch film, go against guys like [Brian] Burns and Abdul [Carter], and try different things.”
That clarity is rare in Eluemunor’s career. Since entering the league in 2017, he’s logged starts at left tackle, right guard, and everywhere in between. In New York, he’s now the starter at right tackle and embracing the consistency.
“I’ve got high aspirations this year,” he said. “Big goals I’m going to achieve — and it’ll be good for this team, too.”
One of the clearest signs of Eluemunor’s leadership is how he’s embraced Evan Neal, the former first-round pick who’s shifting inside to guard after a rocky start at tackle.
“He’s a humongous human being,” Eluemunor said, laughing. “His hands are like ten times the size of mine. There were a couple plays where I was like, ‘Damn, that’s crazy.’”
Part of what makes Eluemunor valuable is what you can’t coach — the chip on his shoulder. It’s the same edge that’s helped him carve out an eight-year NFL career and go toe-to-toe with All-Pros like Maxx Crosby, whom he called a “blessing” to compete with during his time in Las Vegas.
Now in New York, he sees a similar gift in rookie linebacker Abdul Carter.
“He has traits you can’t teach,” Eluemunor said. “There’s may be five guys in the league with that kind of first step. I love going against him because he’s going to make me better.”
The competitive fire is real and it extends beyond the field. Eluemunor’s daily battles with pass rushers like Carter, Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux have added a sharpness to camp that hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“I hate Kayvon,” Eluemunor joked. “Nah, I’m playing. They know my intentions. I want to be great, and so do they. That’s what makes this team better.”
The Giants’ offensive line has been in flux for years. Injuries, inconsistency, and youth have all played a role in the struggles up front. But this year feels different. There’s a veteran edge, a belief that this group can be a tone-setter, not a liability.
That was evident on the first day of padded practice, when the offense closed out with a physical run period that ended with the line running down the clock in a two-minute drill.
“We got to run the ball and practice real situations,” Eluemunor said. “One first down wins the game — and both groups got it done. That was a good day for the offense.”
It’s been only a few days of training camp thus far. But for Eluemunor, who’s seen enough to know how quickly things can change, the progress is real.
“We’ve still got work to do,” he said. “But we’re building something. And I want to be a big part of it.”