A Giants veteran starter makes his case for why he should return to New York in 2026 despite uncertainty with his contract situation
Jermaine Eluemunor addresses his contract situation with the New York Giants with four games remaining in the season
The New York Giants 2026 offseason is going to be one of the biggest in recent history for the franchise. With a solid young core, they need to nail their free agent signings and draft picks.
Most importantly, they need to effectively evaluate which starters to bring back who are upcoming free agents. One of those question marks is starting right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. When speaking with the media today, Eluemunor was direct about where he stands, despite not having a new contract on the table.
“I feel great out there. I’m having a lot of fun. I think that’s why my play has been the way it is,” Eluemunor told reporters, “I don’t really worry about the future. I just worry about the present and what I’m going through. I got four more games to just show this team that I can be part of the future, and just show the rest of the league that I believe I’m the best right tackle in the league.”
Jermaine Eluemunor’s future with the Giants
Today, when speaking with the media, Eluemunor was very candid about his situation and emphasized that it’s nothing new for him. When asked if he’s worried about whether he’ll be back in New York, he disregarded that notion.
“No, because I’ve been on one-year contracts ever since my second year in the league,” Eluemunor stated, “So, every year for me has kind of been a prove it deal, or a situation where I don’t have anything guaranteed for the next season.”
According to Eluemunor, he’s only focusing on what he can control. With four games remaining and the team being eliminated from playoff contention, he’s still focused on playing his best.
“I can’t control whatever people think about me, but as long as in this building, they think highly of me and the way I go out there and I play and prepare, and I do everything I can on this team, that’s what matters most to me,” Eluemunor shared.
Eluemunor was also asked how the team feels about his performance, and he provided clear evidence that the Giants appreciate his impact.
“I’m still starting,” told the media, “So, obviously if they believe that you’re a starter, they think highly of you in this profession. And I know that because I’ve not always been a starter in my career.”
While Eluemunor appears to have confidence in his play, how has he fared according to various offensive line metrics?
How has Jermaine Eluemunor played this season?
According to Pro Football Focus, Eluemunor has graded as the Giants’ second-highest graded starting offensive lineman at 73.2, but is fourth in run blocking with a grade of 53.1. In pass protection, he’s allowed 17 quarterback pressures and four sacks.
Comparing him to the rest of the NFL, Eluemunor is the 24th highest graded offensive tackle in the NFL among linemen who have played over 400 snaps. Of the same criteria, he’s 11th in total pressures allowed and 36th in sacks allowed. His run blocking grade clocked in at 52nd.
Based on those results, it does reflect that Eluemunor has played solidly this season. For a 30-year-old offensive lineman, depending on his asking price, having him return would be worth it for the Giants. Considering how hard it is to find offensive linemen who aren’t total liabilities, it’s worth his sticking around as a veteran leader. Additionally, if Marcus Mbow takes a step in the offseason, he can always steal that job, and the Giants would have a quality backup in Eluemunor.
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