Coming up next in the New York Giants’ vote on Sports Illustrated for the most crucial players on this season’s team is the second honorable mention: offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor.


Jermaine Eluemunor, RT


  • Height:

    6-4

  • Weight:

    330 lbs.

  • College:

    Texas A&M

  • NFL Exp:

    9 Years

  • Career Stats:

    102 GP/ 60 GS //  71.0 Pass-blocking Grade (PFF)

In 2024, Jermaine Eluemunor silenced the skeptics. Initially brought in to start at right guard, he was moved to right tackle due to an injury sustained by Evan Neal during training camp. From then on, he held onto the role without giving it up.

Eluemunor immediately improved the pass protection on the right side by improving consistency. He was not overpowering anywhere, but he was consistent, and most times, that is all that is required to be effective in the NFL, especially against the elite edge rushers that exist in the NFC East.


Why He’s Indispensable

Eluemunor is the second-best offensive lineman on the team. He has established himself as the right tackle of the present and recent future. At 31 years old, he still seems to have a few more years of great production in him, especially when you consider that he did not become a starter until a few years into his NFL career.

While he isn’t the most effective run blocker, with a 56.9 run block rating from PFF placing him at number 93 among 140 tackles in 2024, he does show determination when engaging in line battles. His true strength lies in his reliable performance during passing plays.

His 71 pass block grade ranked 47th. Pass protection was a major need for the Giants when Eleumunor joined the team, and he clearly upgraded the offensive line there.

Perhaps the most underappreciated element of Eluemunor’s game is his versatility, which is what makes him so indispensable.

Keep in mind that he initially joined as a guard but ultimately played right tackle. When trying to find a replacement for the injured Andrew Thomas within the league proved unsuccessful, the team decided to rely on Eluemunor to cover the left side. He took over and performed well in this role.

The ability to not only perform well as a guard or tackle, but also to do so on the left or right side, is something very few offensive linemen can do at a high enough level.

Eluemunor appears to serve as the benchmark for the offensive line, where several players are now capable of playing multiple roles.


What Happens if He’s Missing?

If this scenario played out in 2024, the outcome would have been catastrophic. There weren’t any obvious solutions following Thomas for the position of left tackle, leading to Eluemunor being the choice for that role.

So, if Eluemunor were to have gone down for an extended period, that would be bad because although Neal was there to replace him on the right side, there would be no answer on the left.

Luckily, the squad understood that the subsequent move to enhance the attacking lineup was to boost its depth.

In the free agency period, they secured Stone Forsythe and James Hudson III as backup options for the left and right tackles respectively. Should Eluemunor or Thomas require extended absences due to injury or otherwise, these signings provide ready replacements.

This year, the Giants selected ex-Purdue offensive lineman Marcus Mbow during their draft. Coach Brian Daboll has indicated that Mbow will start off playing as a tackle with potential training for guard duties too.

Some people think Mbow could step in right away, making his ability to serve as backup at both tackle spots helpful during Eluemunor’s absence.


His List Ranking

The reality that Eluemunor jumped from not being included on our 2024 list to receiving an honorary mention today underscores his importance to this team.

He has demonstrated himself as an individual the team can count on to appear and perform his duties reliably.

One could argue that he deserves to be among the top five quarterbacks due to how significantly the depth at his position has improved for the team.

The player who is fourth in line has the greatest familiarity with the offensive playbook yet possesses the lowest skill level among them. It’s possible that each one of these players could step into the lineup at any time and perform effectively.

If Eluemunor puts together another impressive campaign, he’ll see a figure added beside his name.


Moving Forward

Eluemunor is a youthful 31-year-old who hasn’t accumulated too much physical wear and tear. Therefore, there’s no reason he couldn’t handle this role for the next three to five years.

He tends to be shorter, often leading to less frequent injuries compared to those experienced by taller offensive linemen. Should he keep enhancing his run-blocking skills, he has the potential to become a standout player at this position, possibly even earning Pro Bowl recognition.


Other Indispensable Giants

The article was initially posted on

www.si.com/nfl/giants

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Top Essential Giants: The Squad Cannot Risk Losing This Underappreciated Noteworthy Player

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