The New York Giants checked off plenty of items on their offseason wishlist. One of those was ensuring Jermaine Eluemunor would remain with the team for the foreseeable future. After shining in the past two seasons as the right tackle they've been waiting nearly a decade for, the Giants agreed to terms with Eluemunor on a three-year, $39 milion contract.
Even though this is head coach John Harbaugh's first season with the Giants, he is familiar with Eluemunor, as he drafted him in the fifth-round of the 2017 NFL Draft. So with Eluemunor hitting free agency, Harbaugh was still a believer in Eluemunor.
While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Eluemunor was asked about whether he was a different player entering the 2026 season than he was when he entered the league in Baltimore with Harbaugh as his head coach. Eluemunor says that he is "nowhere close" to the player he was as a rookie and second-year player, and he's "glad" Harbaugh gets to see how he matured as a player and as a person.
Eluemunor said he is “nowhere close” to the player he was when the Ravens drafted him in 2017. He has grown a lot, matured a lot, and come into his own as a person and player. “I’m glad Coach Harbs gets to see that.”
— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) March 12, 2026
Jermaine Eluemunor looks forward to proving John Harbaugh, Giants right with new contract
"I'm nowhere close to the player I was back then, I can tell you that," said Eluemunor. "Coach Harbs is the type of guy who's going to love you hard but coach you harder. He's going to hold you accountable for everything, he's going to hold you to a certain standard and a certain expectation when you're practicing out there, the way you carry yourself, the way you represent the franchise, the way you are as a person. He wants great players, but he also wants great men and great people.
Eluemunor, then a prospect from Texas A&M, was selected in the fifth-round by the Ravens in 2017. Harbaugh used him as a right guard in his rookie season, but the playing time was limited. On 198 snaps, the 31-year-old allowed eight pressures and three sacks while committing two penalties, according to Pro Football Focus. In 2018, he didn't get much playing time. Just before the start of the 2019 season, the Ravens traded him to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2020 fourth-round pick.
After his exit from Baltimore, Eluemunor improved his game. After a solid three-year stint with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Giants signed him to a two-year contract. From there, he was locked in at right tackle and never relinquished the role due in part to his impressive play.
In 2024, Eluemunor allowed 29 pressures and four sacks on 925 snaps. This past season, Eluemunor allowed 19 pressures and four sacks on 1,088 snaps.
The Giants seemingly have their quarterback of the future in Jaxson Dart, who does thrive when going off-script. But it will only help him when he has adequate protection along the line of scrimmage. Having Andrew Thomas and Eluemunor locked in at the two tackle spots will only help the second-year quarterback. Harbaugh knows this, even though he hasn't coached a down with the Giants yet.
Eluemunor is looking forward to working with Harbaugh again, this time as one of the Giants' most pivotal players on offense.