Tag: jermaine eluemunor

Staying healthy would be ‘a dream come true’

The New York Giants are still in the process of finding the right mix along their offensive line. They have just two known anchors at the moment — center John Michael Schmitz and All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas.

Thomas has been one of the best at his position in the NFL the past few seasons. That is when he’s been healthy. He missed seven games last year with a hamstring strain.

This week, as the Giants began their voluntary workout sessions at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, Thomas was asked by reporters what it would mean to him to stay healthy and play every game this season.

“That would be a dream come true. (The game) that we play — a lot of things are out of your control, but I am just doing my best to have a positive mindset and do all the rehab and stuff I can to prevent injuries as much as possible,” he said.

Thomas described what his status was coming out of last season and his plan for the spring and summer.

“No surgeries, but definitely putting an emphasis on getting my body back to 100 percent,” he said. “Took some time off to really recover and just being proactive about doing my rehab. Even if it’s not bothering me, just trying to do stuff to stay on top of it to prevent injuries as much as possible.”

Thomas is one of the blocks that new offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo will build upon this year. Bricillo comes over from the Las Vegas Raiders and studied under the legendary line coach Dante Scarnecchia during his time in New England.

Thomas called Bricillo ‘energetic’ and touched on the coach’s initial message to the offensive line room.

“The first thing he said in meetings today is he wants tough players. We can figure out the rest. And that’s what you want from a coach,” Thomas said. “You don’t want to have — or speaking, if I was a coach, I wouldn’t want to have to coach effort. I only want to focus on the nuances of the game and technique and things like that. As long as we bring the effort and toughness, he’s going to do his job to coach us up.”

And that is what the Giants are hoping for. A healthy Thomas and a new dawn along the offensive line to help this team get their sagging offense back on track.

Thomas is looking forward to playing alongside two key free agent additions — guards Jon Runyan Jr. and Jermaine Eleumunor. He spoke about the value both players bring to the unit.

“The vet presence, you play ball in the NFL, that’s an asset as an offensive lineman because a lot of it is taking reps over and over going against some of the top guys, so I know that helps,” Thomas said. “Two, I know Jermaine played for Carm last year, so he can help with bridging the gap with the offense and understanding how the coach sees things and all of us getting on the same page.”

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New York Giants reached out to Evan Neal’s team about moving to guard

The New York Giants focused heavily on retooling their offensive line over the first week of free agency, signing Jermaine Eluemunor, Jon Runyan Jr., Austin Schlottmann, and Aaron Stinnie.

Of the group, only Eluemunor has significant experience at tackle.

After their introductory press conferences, it seems like Runyan and Eluemunor are slated to play guard with Schlottmann and Stinnie serving as backups. It would also mean Evan Neal reassumes his role as the team’s starting right tackle.

“Evan Neal is a really good player in my opinion. I think he has a lot of potential,” Eluemunor told reporters.

But those roles aren’t quite set in stone. At least not yet.

ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports that the Giants have reached out to Neal’s team to discuss the possibility of him moving to guard. More specifically, to left guard alongside Andrew Thomas.

“I’ve also heard that the Giants had talked with Evan Neal’s team a little bit about playing left guard,” Raanan said on the Breaking Big Blue podcast.

For now, Neal remains penciled in at right tackle but Raanan doesn’t believe that will remain the case long-term — unless, of course, Neal drastically improves.

“Evan Neal, from what I understand, is the right tackle only until he’s not the right tackle,” Raanan said.

General manager Joe Schoen has refused to publicly entertain the idea of Neal moving inside to guard but it’s slowly becoming the most likely outcome.

Expect Neal and Eluemunor to see time at right tackle throughout the summer with a final decision being made closer to Week 1.

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Jermaine Eluemunor, wearing No. 72, vows to make Osi Umenyiora proud

The New York Giants introduced their newest additions along the offensive line on Thursday in guard Jon Runyon Jr. and guard/tackle Jermaine Eluemunor.

Eluemunor will wear uniform No. 72, which was worn once by Giants Ring of Honoree and strip-sack specialist Osi Umenyiora.

Eluemunor said he cleared things with the famous sack master before commandeering the number and promised to do right by it.

Osi told Eluemunor not to worry and to “do his thing” and returned the respect on social media.

Eluemunor has been all over social media expressing his excitement over joining the Giants. Asked why he was so ecstatic to sign with a team that has one of the worst records in the NFL over the past decade, he didn’t hesitate to answer.

“My excitement comes from this franchise as a whole,” he said.

“I grew up in Jersey when I moved from London. Also, the first team I ever saw play football was the Giants, and that helmet and that uniform just sticks out to me. It’s known across the world. For me coming here to this franchise was always a dream. You say they haven’t won that much, but I’ve watched them a number of times. Who knows? Maybe I’m the missing piece for helping them get towards that.”

Eluemunor comes over from the Las Vegas Raiders, where he played mainly at tackle last season for then-line coach Carmen Bricillo, who is now in the role here with the Giants.

“If you really look at my production, my best two years came under Carm,” he said. “To have someone like him that just believes in you and is going to go to war and bat for you up in that room up there and give you tough love and also do what needs to be done and help you in ways that you need to be helped, that goes a long way.”

Where Eluemunor will play is still unknown. The Giants’ line has just two slots spoken for — left tackle (Andrew Thomas) and center (John Michael Schmitz).

“One thing that has helped me get to this position right now, is my versatility,” Eluemunor said. “I’ve played left tackle, left guard, right guard, right tackle. We have a really good left tackle. Evan Neal is a really good player in my opinion. I think he has a lot of potential. I’m really excited to play with Runyan and JMS.

“I’ll play where I’m needed. That’s my thing, and I think that’s what’s helped me stay in the league this long and get to the position, is I’m really versatile. Wherever I’m needed and whatever helps the team is where I’m going to be.”



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Jermaine Eluemunor is ridiculously excited to play for the Giants

Long before he suits up in New York Giants blue and steps foot onto the field, offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is going to be a fan favorite.

On the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period, the Giants agreed to terms with Eluemunor on a two-year, $14 million deal. What position he ultimately plays has yet to be determined, but it won’t matter. The energy he brings will endear him to the fanbase.

Even before pen was put to paper, Eluemunor began to express his elation over joining the Giants. The mere thought of putting on that classic Giants helmet turned the 6-foot-4, 330-pound monster of a man into a giddy, excited child on Christmas morning.

Given how poorly the Giants have played over the past decade, many began to question Eluemunor’s exhilaration. But instead of backing off his initial comments, he doubled and tripled down.

Pressed further about why he was so excited to join a struggling franchise, Eluemunor elaborated.

This is the most excited a player has been over joining the Giants in a long, long time.



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Giants’ offensive line signings could be ominous sign for Evan Neal

The New York Giants added two offensive linemen on Day 1 of free agency’s legal tampering period on Monday when they signed guard Jon Runyon Jr. of the Green Bay Packers and Las Vegas Raiders’ guard/tackle Jermaine Eluemunor.

It looks as if Runyon will be the right guard but where they put Eluemunor — who can play both guard and tackle — is still unknown.

Eluemunor played mainly tackle for the Raiders last year, where current Giants offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo was the position coach.

So, what does that mean for current right tackle Evan Neal? Are the Giants putting him “on notice,” or have they already moved on from him and are giving him one last shot to prove his first-round pedigree?

In ESPN’s Jordan Raanan’s mockup, Neal is bumped from right tackle to left guard, a move general manager Joe Schoen has been unwilling to entertain publicly.

Eluemunor is at right tackle, which is telling given the relationship with Bricillo and his way of doing things. The Giants appear to be willing to give Neal, who was selected seventh overall out of Alabama in 2022, as many chances as he needs to shed the ‘bust’ label after two disappointing seasons.

Neal’s durability is also a factor in the Giants’ decision to add insurance/replacement pieces. He has played in just 20 of the Giants’ 34 regular season games since joining the team due to injuries.



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6 things to know about the guard

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In his 45 NFL starts, 32 have been at right tackle, seven at left tackle, and six at right guard. Where the Giants will use him is still to be determined. They signed Jon Runyon Jr. to play right guard, so left guard or right tackle seems to be in Eluemunor’s future.

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New York Giants to sign ex-Las Vegas Raiders OL Jermaine Eluemunor

The New York Giants continue to make moves on the first day of the legal tampering free agency period. They will reportedly add Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor on a two-year deal.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to share the news.

Eluemunor, 29, was a fifth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens back in 2017 out of Texas A&M and moved onto New England after three seasons. He also spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins before landing in Las Vegas in 2021.

Eluemunor (6’4″, 330 pounds) has played in 87 NFL games, starting 45, and allowed 21 pressures on 474 pass-block attempts (4.4%) in 12 starts at right tackle last season.

It’s unclear if the Giants intend to use Eluemunor at guard or tackle, where he would presumably compete with Evan Neal.



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12 free agents New York Giants could target based on coaching hires

The New York Giants significantly overhauled their coaching staff this offseason, changing two of their three coordinators while also switching out a multitude of assistant coaches.

Because of those changes, the team will need to readjust their personnel by way of free agency and the 2024 NFL draft in an effort to match talent with the new schemes.

As a reminder, here are the notable coaching changes:

  • Defensive coordinator, Shane Bowen
  • Special teams coordinator, Michael Ghobrial
  • Running backs coach, Joel Thomas
  • Offensive line coach, Carmen Bricillo
  • Tight ends coach, Tim Kelly

These new arrivals create an interesting dynamic headed into free agency. They are intimately familiar with several of the available players and have developed trust with them over the years.

While that doesn’t necessarily mean any or all of them will be signed by the Giants, there is likely to be some crossover.

Here is a look at 12 impending free agents the Giants could target based on the above coaching changes/hires.

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Unless the Giants plan to re-sign Leonard Williams this offseason, they’ll need to find someone to fill his role that was vacated after a mid-season trade. His absence allowed more double- and triple-teams on nose tackle Dexter Lawrence and defensive end Denico Autry would certainly help to ease that pressure.

While Autry is a bit on the older side (34), he’s still highly productive and would be intimately familiar with Shane Bowen’s system.

In 2023, Autry recorded career-highs in tackles (50), forced fumbles (2) and sacks (11.5).

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The Giants don’t necessarily have a need at linebacker with Bobby Okereke playing at an All-Pro level and Micah McFadden coming into his own, but Azeez Al-Shaair is still intriguing.

In 2023, Al-Shaair was fifth in the NFL with 168 tackles and graded out well across the board. He’s particularly good against the run, which is an area the Giants still need to improve upon.

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The Giants aren’t likely to bring back Adoree’ Jackson and rookie Tre Hawkins III didn’t develop as they had hoped, so cornerback will be a need this offseason.

Sean Murphy-Bunting started 14 games last season and played relatively well. He was particularly impactful as a blitzer, which would have made him more ideally suited for Wink Martindale’s defense, but he found a place under Bowen.

Kristian Fulton could also be an option at cornerback.

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Xavier McKinney is an impending free agent but it’s difficult to imagine the Giants allowing him to get away. He and Jason Pinnock formed a formidable safety duo in 2023 and general manager Joe Schoen would be foolish to let that evaporate.

However, if they do, veteran safety Terrell Edmunds could be a potential replacement option. Ditto K’Von Wallace, who could come at a lower cost.

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The Giants will address the quarterback position this offseason, as Schoen previously alluded to. The door remains open for Tyrod Taylor to return but that’s far from a guarantee.

Assuming he finds no options as a potential starter, Ryan Tannehill may be forced to seek out the ideal backup job. With Daniel Jones recovering from a torn ACL and saddled by a history of injury, Tannehill could view the Giants’ backup job as a “matter of time” situation.

Cost will obviously be the determining factor here.

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The Giants have obvious needs along the offensive line and could be souring on Evan Neal at right tackle. Even if they continue to pencil Neal in as the starter, their depth is lacking. Veteran tackle Chris Hubbard could be a solution to that despite his age (32) and injury-riddled 2023 campaign.

Before being placed on IR with a biceps injury, Hubbard played at an above-average level. And while that may not be inspiring for most, above average is something the Giants dream of for their offensive linemen. And he may come relatively cheap, too.

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The 6-foot-2, 211-pound Nick Westbrook-Ikhine isn’t the WR1 the Giants desperately need but he did carve out a nice role for Tim Kelly in 2023, hauling in 28 receptions for 370 yards and three touchdowns.

Westbrook-Ikhine could help round out receiver depth for the Giants and serve as a potential replacement for someone like Isaiah Hodgins, who regressed a year ago. Parris Campbell also won’t be returning, so there is a spot available on the back end of the depth chart.

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Perhaps more than any other player on this list, offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor makes sense for the Giants.

The 6-foot-4, 330-pound guard appeared in all 17 games a season ago with 14 starts. He was penalized just four times and surrendered a mere six hits on the season (6 sacks). His pass protection was mid-pack but he was a quality run defender, which the Giants need on the inside.

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Greg Van Roten is a 33-year-old journeyman who found a fit with the Raiders last season, starting all 17 games for just the second time in his career (previously 16 games). He was among the league’s best pass-blocking guards and fared well while run blocking, too.

Although Van Roten has a bit of an injury history, the Giants could view him as a solid and inexpensive one-year option to help shore up their underwhelming guard position.

This would be a very solid under-the-radar addition for Schoen.

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Lynn Bowden is listed as a wide receiver but more accurately, he’s a utility player. He can step in at wide receiver, tight end, running back, and return both kicks and punts. He does a little bit of everything and would provide the Giants the sort of versatility desperately needed given their many deficiencies.

Bowden has even been known to throw the ball a time or two.

Although it wouldn’t be a high-profile signing, Bowden would be a unique addition to a Giants team that largely lacks utility.

Note: Bowden is a restricted rights free agent, so he would potentially cost the Giants a draft pick depending on what round he is tendered.

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Ashtyn Davis performed well as a spot defender in 2023, recording 37 tackles and three interceptions on defense. He wouldn’t be a starter with the Giants, especially if they bring back McKinney, but he would provide quality depth in the secondary.

More importantly, Davis is a solid special teamer who took nearly 85 percent of the snaps for Gang Green in 2023.

The Giants have carried several special teams-specific players in recent years (Cam Brown, Carter Coughlin) and there’s no reason to believe they won’t continue to do that moving forward, especially with several of those players departing via free agency.

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Justin Hardee isn’t a player who would factor in defensively but like Davis above, is a solid special teams player who could step in and fill an immediate need for the Giants.

In 2022, Hardee made the Pro Bowl for his special teams contributions and likely would have duplicated that honor in 2023 if not for some injury issues.

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