The Evan Neal experience hasn’t exactly gone how anyone hoped. Taken No. 7 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, the New York Giants expected the former Alabama standout to form a long-term tackle duo with Andrew Thomas. Instead, they’ve gotten three years of injuries, inconsistency, and frustration.
Things bottomed out last season. Neal missed training camp due to an ankle injury, lost his starting right tackle job to Jermaine Eluemunor, and managed just nine appearances before landing back on the sideline. When the Giants declined his fifth-year option this offseason, it wasn’t exactly a shock. Neal’s rookie deal now expires after 2025, and his Giants future is hanging by a thread.
But rather than sulk about it or fade quietly, Neal’s taking on a new challenge. He’s moving inside, and according to the New York Post, he’ll now compete for the starting right guard job. It’s not what anyone envisioned back in 2022. But if there’s going to be a second act in New York, this is where it starts. Neal is going out swinging.
Evan Neal is making the most of what’s left
The move inside isn’t some novelty—it’s full-on survival mode. Eluemunor is the presumed starter at right tackle, with James Hudson III and Stone Forsythe brought in to reinforce the depth. Neal? He is not guaranteed anything. He’ll be battling it out with vets Greg Van Roten, Jon Runyan, and Aaron Stinnie for a crack at guard.
But if there’s a blueprint for how this can work, look no further than former Jets first-rounder Mekhi Becton. He was another big-bodied, athletic tackle with a promising profile that got buried by injuries and bad tape. After shifting to guard with the Eagles, Becton revitalized his career and turned it into a $20 million payday with the LA Chargers. The guard switch isn’t a magic fix, but it’s worked before.
And here’s the thing—Neal is still just 24 years old. He hasn’t played guard since his freshman year at Alabama, but he was dominant there. The traits that made him the top tackle prospect in his draft class are still in there somewhere. He’s just running out of time to show it.
The G-Men didn’t decline his option for fun. They did it because the production hasn’t matched the pick. But moving inside gives Neal a shot—not at redemption, maybe, but at relevance. He’s not chasing stardom anymore. He’s just trying to stay in the league. If not? He’ll be looking for a new job in 2026.