In a year from now, New York Giants fans will likely finally have their answer on whether Evan Neal is long for the team or not. Neal, the infamous No. 7 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has not come close to fitting the billing of a top-10 pick.
Coming out of Alabama with uncoachable athletic and physical traits, Neal was widely regarded as one of the better and more promising selections. He had played some guard in college, but tackle was where he shone, and he felt like a natural fit in New York across the line from Andrew Thomas... until he wasn't.
Three underwhelming years later, and Neal is still in the "we don't know what he is" phase. It's unfortunate. What we do know is he is not an NFL-caliber tackle. And he seems onboard with the position switch as he has moved inside this offseason to get his once-promising career back on track. Apparently, it's already working. Head coach Brian Daboll all but confirmed it.
Brian Daboll gives positive update on Evan Neal's position switch
While speaking to the media after Day 1 of mandatory minicamp, Daboll was asked about Neal's progress moving inside, and Daboll provided a positive update that could have major ramifications on the O-line structure heading into the season:
"He's done a nice job — picked up things well inside," Daboll told reporters.
While it's not the world-class standard of ringing endorsements, it's not a bad update, either. Neal's career is hanging in the balance, and it's safe to say this is his final shot in New York. The team already declined his fifth-year option earlier this offseason, signaling they have come to terms with moving on without him.
The hope is that his position switch puts him in a better position to succeed. It was just last year that the Philadelphia Eagles experimented with the same idea, moving Mekhi Becton from tackle to guard. It seemed to have worked out well for them — one of the best offensive lines in football and a Super Bowl ring. Daboll and Co. are hoping to have the same success story.
Dabes wasn't the only coach speaking highly of Neal's transition, "He's doing well so far. Excited to see when we put pads on what happens, but he's embraced it, we've embraced it, it's been good so far," offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo told the New York Post.
If this is Neal’s last shot in New York, at least the staff is giving him a real chance to make it count. The position switch could be what finally unlocks something, or confirms what fans already suspect.