The writing's been on the wall surrounding Evan Neal's future with the New York Giants for quite some time. The former top-10 pick in 2022 has served as a healthy scratch for Big Blue in every game this season, and Tuesday's trade deadline can finally put the Neal saga to rest.
The former Alabama standout hasn't been one of the most sought-after names expected to be dealt, but it would be surprising if he remains a Giant after Tuesday, especially entering a contract year. That's why it came as no surprise when ESPN's Dan Graziano listed Neal as an under-the-radar trade candidate with the deadline looming.
The 25-year-old has been one of the biggest draft busts in recent memory, but a change of scenery could help revive his career. Graziano mentioned that around this time of year, teams are always searching for OL depth, so there's no reason for general manager Joe Schoen not to entertain offers.
Evan Neal might finally get traded after months of speculation
Neal primarily played left tackle with Alabama, but the presence of Andrew Thomas saw Big Blue try him on the right side. However, things have gotten so bad for the ex-All-American that New York tried moving him to guard this offseason, but even that decision crashed and burned.
According to Pro Football Focus, Neal was a viable run blocker, as his 80.8 pass blocking grade in 2024 ranked ninth among all guards. However, he is an absolute turnstile in pass protection, as his 49.6 pass block grade was 76th among 81 qualified guards.
Something Graziano also mentioned is that Joshua Ezeudu has been designated to return from IR, which makes the need for the draft bust that much smaller. Ezeudu has that same versatility to play both tackle and guard, and has been considerably more productive at doing so.
If New York is going to just let him go this offseason (which seems pretty likely), at least they can manage to recoup some value for him before swinging a deal over the next few days. It's obvious that Neal is no longer part of the long-term plans, so even a Day 3 pick swap is better than no return this offseason.
His disappointing career trajectory has started to quickly remind Giants fans of fellow draft bust Ereck Flower, and it looks like his entire NFL future is in jeopardy if he doesn't turn things around with his next professional destination.
Schoen has some interesting decisions to make over the next few days.