EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Jay Bromley didn’t expect getting a phone call Friday night that he was going to be selected in the NFL draft.
“My agent said somewhere between four and six (rounds),” Bromley said. “I thought the earliest would be tomorrow (Saturday).”
So Bromley went to a grocery store in Syracuse, where he attended school, and went to rent a movie and that’s when he received the call that he was indeed selected by his favorite team, the New York Giants, in the third round.
“At first, I thought they were joking,” said Bromley, a defensive tackle at Syracuse. “I honestly didn’t think I’d go today. Then I talked to Coach (Tom) Coughlin and it was surreal. I mean, it’s the hometown team, my favorite team, Big Blue and to get picked by them, it’s crazy. I grew up watching guys like Osi (Umenyiora) and (Michael) Strahan. They sacked the quarterback and I love sacking the quarterback. That’s what I do.”
The 6-foot-3, 306-pound Bromley, a native of Jamaica, New York, recorded 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for losses last season for Syracuse. He was the 74th player selected in the NFL draft.
The Giants had a need at defensive tackle ever since Linval Joseph and Justin Tuck left the team for free agency in the offseason.
“To win in this league, you have to have people who can play up front,” Giants general manager Jerry Reese said. “That’s where it all starts. Jay played at a high level and had 10 sacks. He plays hard. There are a lot of things to like about this kid.”
Bromley made 33 career starts with the Orange and showed improvement throughout his four-year career. He currently ranks 15th on the Orange career list for tackles by a down lineman (121). He had 32 unassisted tackles last season for the Orange in 13 games, including a sack against eventual national champion Florida State.
The Giants like Bromley’s ability along the line of scrimmage and believe he can become bigger and stronger with a proper weight room regimen.
Bromley was a team captain at Syracuse, joining fellow rookies Odell Beckham, Jr. (LSU) and Weston Richburg (Colorado State) as captains of their respective college teams, something the Giants’ brass said they looked for during the draft.
“Being that they’re all captains tells me that they’re not only good football players, but that they’re well respected and trusted by their teammates,” Coughlin said. “They have virtues and values they believe in. Jay is the kind of kid we want working in the Giants organization.”
Reese said he was pleased with the Giants’ three draft picks.
“Things broke our way pretty well where we were sitting,” Reese said. “It didn’t make sense for us to move up or down. We have a lot of things we liked with all three picks. They’re good football players. We’re happy to get the players we did.”
Bromley graduates from Syracuse on Saturday. He’s expected to arrive at the Giants’ practice facility on Sunday.
“It’s just a dream come true,” Bromley said. “I’m ready to get to work.”
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