The New York Giants may have a hard time retaining right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, especially given his self confidence.
Eluemunor doubled down on his recent claims that he’s the NFL’s best right tackle ahead of free agency opening later this week.
Eluemunor just finished his two-year, $14 million contract with the Giants, which he signed during the infamous 2024 offseason, and is looking for a bigger raise from his $7 million AAV in what might be his final NFL contract.
The veteran 6-4, 338-pound lineman started 31 games for the Giants. He has played 118 games, and started 76, over his nine NFL seasons with the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders.
Jermaine Eluemunor Believes He’s The NFL’s Best Right Tackle
Pro Football Focus may disagree, but Eluemunor has been adamant about collecting a raise due to his self belief.
“I made sure to let anyone who wanted to hear me know that I believe I’m the best right tackle in the league and my film proves it,” Eluemunor recently told The Athletic. “Now I’m at that place where mentally I can’t be broken. I’m going to keep getting better and better to where you’re going to have no choice but to say that I am one of the best players at my position and one of the best players, period.”
PFF gave Eluemunor the 20th-best pass-blocking grade of 89 qualifying tackles (76.7) but the 54th-best overall grade at 63.8. Eluemunor’s struggles with run blocking are a concern (55.1 PFF grade), but he has just four holding penalties in his career — with one per season over his two years with the Giants — though he did get flagged 12 times in 2025.
Eluemunor quoted a tweet referencing his boastful claims, doubling down on his belief in himself. He also explained his thought process in making those claims.
“If you haven’t followed me or my career I know it may sound crazy,” Eluemunor posted on X (formerly Twitter). “I’ve earned my confidence, and I truly believe I am. No knock on anyone, Just that confident in myself.”
The Giants Are Trying to Bring Jermaine Eluemunor Back
The clock is ticking before Eluemunor hits free agency Wednesday, but Joe Schoen, John Harbaugh and the organization are putting their best feet forwards to retain the right tackle.
SNY’s Connor Hughes reported the team is trying to retain its right tackle, though they will have competition from the Arizona Cardinals at least if Eluemunor hits the market.
Harbaugh drafted Eluemunor with the Ravens in the fifth round in 2017, which may help the Giants in re-signing the offensive lineman. Plus, the Giants will surely want to continue their offensive-line continuity into 2026, especially having solid book-end tackles of Eluemunor and left tackle Andrew Thomas to protect budding second-year franchise QB Jaxson Dart.
But Eluemunor is likely to command up to $10 million per year on the open market, or more depending on what a rival team offers him. Plus, Eluemunor is about to turn 32 and missed New York’s final two games due to a late-season quad injury last year.
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