IT’S HOORAY FOR BIG JAY

D-lineman taking Giant steps for Big Blue

THE GIANTS have big shoes to fill at defensive tackle with the departure of Jonathan Hankins, but there is one guy who is starting to stand out.

Jay Bromley, the four-year veteran from Syracuse, appears to be the frontrunner to take the starting role alongside Damon (Snacks) Harrison to round out the Giants’ front four on the defensive line.

Bromley received most of the first-team reps throughout training camp and is listed ahead of rookie Dalvin Tomlinson on the team’s unofficial depth chart

“Nothing is guaranteed in this league,” Bromley told the News at the start of training camp. “Guys like myself … guys older really need to step up and compete for that starting job.”

Head coach Ben McAdoo would not say if Bromley separated himself, but was impressed with the way he played in the preseason opener against the Steelers. He finished with a tackle for a loss and two assisted tackles in 19 snaps.

“I think Jay’s improving,” McAdoo said. “He’s playing with some hostility out there, he’s playing aggressive, playing physical football.”

The Giants drafted Bromley, a Queens native, in the third round of the 2014 draft but he has yet to take on a significant role with the team, being used mostly as a backup or substitute player.

Last season he recorded his first career sack but played in just 22% of the team’s defensive snaps.

While the rookie Tomlinson got a more extensive look in the preseason opener, getting to play eight more snaps than Bromley, the veteran defensive tackle has a deeper knowledge of the playbook, which he sees as an advantage.

“I've been in the league four years now and the terminology, the defense, understanding the defense, those things come more naturally to me being in this defense for 2-3 years,” Bromley said. His teammates have also noticed a difference. Harrison told reporters on Tuesday that Bromley is “night and day” compared to last year.

“Jay’s come a long way, man, but that’s just a testament to him being in here in the offseason,” Harrison said. “I come in here to run and he’s already running, lifting weights, he’s focused.”

Harrison, who considers himself a “one-trick pony” as a run-stopping nose tackle, also lauded Tomlinson and Thomas, but spoke highly of the versatility Bromley adds to the line.

“He’s faster than me, he’s a pass rusher, he’s strong, he’s long,” Harrison said. “Now he’s just more comfortable in the defense and he knows exactly what’s asked of him and he’s doing a pretty damn good job of putting forth the effort.”

That effort could pay off in a big way for Bromley, too. The 25-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season and if he can show he has what it takes to make an impact as a starter it could land him a lucrative deal in the offseason.

Bromley isn’t too concerned about that, though.

In fact, the Flushing High School product only sees one way on how his “storybook” career — from Queens to Syracuse to the Giants — could get any better.

“Just dial in and just start and play well and get a championship,” Bromley said. “That would be the best way to cap it, at least for these four years. So that's a great story in and of itself.”