The Giants were hoping that Evan Neal would be an All-Pro caliber right tackle when they selected him at No. 7 during the 2022 NFL Draft. But that hasn’t been the case in any way. The former first-round pick from Alabama has struggled with injuries and has started just 27 total games in three seasons.
The hope this offseason was that a move to guard would help Neal find a spot in the starting lineup. But as we saw on Thursday night, that transition hasn’t done him any favors. And now, there are some serious questions about what will happen next with Neal and the Giants.
Neal feels like a prime trade candidate after rocky preseason
Thursday night was a chance for Neal to show that moving to right guard could save his career, but it might have done the opposite. According to the Amazon broadcast, Neal allowed four pressures on 22 pass-blocking snaps, which is an incredibly high amount for any game, let alone a preseason contest.
The Giants moved former 7th overall pick Evan Neal from tackle to guard and he looks even worse. 😭 pic.twitter.com/rd7PPbpLVG
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) August 22, 2025
The biggest issue for Neal is his feet, and he was beaten by quickness multiple times. That was an issue for him at tackle, and the hope was that a move to guard would cover it up, but that has not been the case so far. It may eventually happen for Neal at guard, but he’s going to need a lot more reps, and unfortunately, the Giants can’t risk him being in the lineup right now.
At this point, you can make a case that Neal could be outright released by the Giants based on what we saw on Thursday night. He’s clearly not developing, and a change of scenery might be what is needed for both sides. The Giants would not save any money by releasing him, but a trade might be the best outcome, as there would surely be a team interested in trying to resurrect his career.
Sadly, it’s come to this for the Giants and Neal, but a split feels inevitable at this point. Don’t be surprised if the former All-American offensive linemen is the subject of several trade talks over the weekend. Expect some moves here before Tuesday's final cutdown.