The peanut butter and jelly sandwich was introduced nearly 125 years ago — just before the Giants started searching for their own perfectly complementary combination to put at offensive tackle.
OK, that’s an exaggeration, but it certainly has been a long time (14 years?) since the bookends of the offensive line were as big of a combined strength for the Giants as is the case right now with left tackle Andrew Thomas and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor protecting rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
“Everyone knows who A.T. is,” Eluemunor said. “I want to be the same status as A.T. — supposed to be in the Pro Bowl and All-Pro because that’s what I’m capable of. If we do that, Dart will have all the time in the world to stand back there.”
Thomas arguably has been the best offensive lineman (regardless of position) in the NFL since making his season debut in Week 3. He has the highest pass-block win rate (96 percent) among all tackles, per ESPN, and zero sacks allowed.
“There are some things that I want to tighten up, especially in the run game, and I think that just takes time,” the modest Thomas said. “I’m getting the continuity back in my body, too — just getting adjusted to playing this much and missing training camp.”
The Giants don’t need to look past last week against the Broncos — when then-NFL sacks leader Nik Bonitto was quieted by Thomas and Eluemunor no matter whom he tried — to see what they have in the fold.
Together, they have allowed two sacks, two quarterback hits and seven hurries, per Pro Football Focus.
“Jermaine and A.T. are playing really good ball right now,” offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said.
The Giants don’t have to look past Sunday against the Eagles — who have paired right tackle Lane Johnson and left tackle Jordan Mailata since 2020 to create the NFL’s gold standard — to see why beginning extension talks with the pending free agent Eluemunor should be a priority.
“Just being around guys throughout my career, when you start to think about that, it kind of knocks you off track,” Eluemunor said. “This is one of the first years I’m focused on what’s ahead of me. If it comes up, it comes up.”
Thomas, a 2022 Second-Team All-Pro, has started opposite six right tackles — Cam Fleming, Nate Solder, Matt Peart, Evan Neal, Tyre Phillips and Eluemunor — during his 66 career games. Eluemunor has closed the revolving door in the way that the former first-round pick Neal never could.
Eluemunor set three preseason goals: Play 1,000 snaps for the first time in his career, start all 17 games and become the NFL’s best right tackle.
“It’s been my motivation since I got into the league to be the best player at my position,” Eluemunor said. “I feel like if you are not striving for that, what are you really striving for? I don’t go out there just to cash a check. I go out there to truly dominate.”
Thomas, 26, is signed through 2029. Eluemunor, 29, came to the Giants in 2024 along with offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo on a two-year, $14 million contract that looks like a bargain compared to swing tackle James Hudson (two years, $12 million).
“Jermaine is a great player,” Thomas said. “We’re always having conversations about techniques. Certain players do different things, and as offensive linemen we have different strengths and weaknesses, so we bounce ideas off each other – things with the cadence, just trying to get an advantage any time we can. When you play well up front, you give your team a chance to win. And we want to do that.”
The last great Giants offensive line had continuity with left tackle David Diehl and right tackle Kareem McKenzie for two Super Bowl runs.
“It’s always cool to have a partner who you know is going to hold down their side,” Eluemunor said, “and if you hold off your side, you are going to feed off each other.”
In some ways, the Giants lucked into this combination.
Eluemunor was signed to play guard, moved to right tackle when Neal was hurt and to left tackle when Thomas was hurt.
“I told Dabes in the offseason, ‘Let me play just one position and see what I’m capable of instead of me having to worry about every single position on the offensive line,’” Eluemunor said. “Years prior, that kept me in the league because I could do everything. Mentally, I’m finally there. Physically, I’m finally there. This is the first year where my weight hasn’t been an issue. My nutrition is where it needs to be. Everything is how it needs to be, so I’m able to play free.”
New Jersey is home to Eluemunor’s parents and high school memories. It makes sense to put roots here, but his play is driving up his market beyond the series of short-term contracts he has had since his first time getting cut in 2018.
“It would be nice to finally call some place home,” Eluemunor said. “But I just want to be the best player for those next 10 games.”
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