The beat pool covering the New York Giants got their first taste of new nose tackle D.J. Reader on Wednesday after the team’s ninth of 10 OTA workouts.
Reader, a 6-foot-3, 335-pound established run stopper in this league, was impressed with the number of sizable players the Giants have brought in this offseason.
“We kind of got a ‘get-off-the-bus’ type of team. You look at it, there’s a bunch of big, strong, fast guys running around. That’s exciting when you’re playing on defense,” said Reader.
Shortly after, right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor took his turn at the podium. He was asked if he gets the sense this team is bigger and stronger now.
“I’ll tell you me personally, I am,” he stated. “This has definitely been the best offseason of my career from a workout standpoint. I feel like I’m in the best shape of my career. Strength-wise, the strongest I was playing football was in college. Like, I’m stronger than that now. Hitting weights that I haven’t touched in a long time in the league.
“Also, just being out here, you see the difference in body shape, guys, and everyone came into the offseason with a goal in mind and really determined to change this thing around and really win. You see that by the way guys work out, by the way they practice. I think it’s been a really productive offseason.”
Eluemunor believes he is one of the best right tackles in the NFL and feels his unit could be among the best as well.
“I think everyone wants to be the best. I don’t see why not. Last season, I think from an O-line standpoint, I think that we were one of the best pass-blocking units in the NFL. I also think we were one of the best run-blocking units in the NFL. That’s why we were in the top five categories when it comes to rushing. I don’t see why this can’t be one of the best offensive lines in the NFL,” he said.
“Me, AT (Andrew Thomas), (Jon) Runyan, (John Michael) Schmitz, then Sisi (Mauigoa) is coming along really well, too. He’s an athletic freak. I think they’re going to do a lot of good things this season. I mean, everyone wants to be the best. If you don’t want to be the best, I think that’s the wrong mindset to have.”
The biggest addition this offseason, other than Thomas returning to health, is the rookie Mauigoa, who the Giants selected with the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft. Mauigoa, who is called “Sisi” by his teammates and coaches, was a tackle in college, but the Giants decided to shift him to right guard between Schmitz and Eluemunor.
Eluemunor called Mauigoa “a really confident guy” and “a really hard worker, and doesn’t take BS from anyone.”
“A lot of the times when me and (linebacker Brian) Burns are going at it, and he’s sliding out to him, he’s not afraid to get in Burns’ face or get in Abdul’s (Carter) face,” Eluemunor said. “And let them know that when we put pads on and like if it was a game, he would be waiting for him right there, waiting for him to spin back inside so he can smack him. It’s like that young-guy energy that you kind of feed off.
“Sisi is a really hard-working guy. He’s a physical guy. I think the sky’s the limit for him. It’s been a lot of fun.”
This upcoming season looks to be different in many ways under new head coach John Harbaugh, and the offensive line could finally be back dominating opponents.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants’ Jermaine Eluemunor entering 2026 season in best shape of his life
Reporting by John Fennelly, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By John Fennelly, Giants Wire | USA TODAY Network
