A week ago, Evan Neal was counting down the days until he was cut by the New York Giants. Back with the team on a one-year deal, the former first-round pick seemed to have little to no chance of making the final roster. He was stuck with the third-team offense, unable to climb the depth chart.
Then, the Giants traded away the man blocking his path. New York sent guard Daniel Faalele to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a late-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft on Tuesday, per Evan Barnes.
With Faalele out of the picture, the backup right guard spot is wide open. Suddenly, Neal has a real opportunity ahead of him.
Evan Neal's Giants roster hopes just got real after Daniel Faalele trade
In the early years of his career, Neal was unplayable. After getting drafted at No. 7 overall in 2022, he allowed 68 pressures across his first two seasons. Three years into his career, he was moved from right tackle to right guard and stashed on the bench.
It came as a surprise when the G-Men brought him back on a cheap deal this offseason, even if he didn't seem like a true roster hopeful. Even in training camp, the guard failed to gain any ground.
When asked about Neal's status during training camp, Giants reporter Dan Duggan said, "Nothing to report. He's been glued to the third team at RG (although he did sneak in for a few snaps with the 2's today in the walk-through) and the 3's don't get many reps. Hard to see how he could make a real push for a spot."
Neal got 20 offensive snaps in New York's preseason opener, but they came near the end of the game. Until Faalele was traded, it seemed like his days were numbered in New Jersey.
Neal still faces an uphill climb, but Faalele's departure gives him an avenue to making the roster.
He has some competition for a roster spot. Lucas Patrick has experience at all three interior offensive line spots, Aaron Stinnie is a steady backup, and Jake Kubas will be eager to jump on the opportunity brought on by the Faalele trade. Even Marcus Mbow can kick inside if necessary. Neal's place in the final 53 is far from guaranteed.
The 25-year-old will need to prove himself in the Giants' next two preseason games. He'll likely see higher snap counts as the coaching staff looks to evaluate his offseason progress. With a couple of strong performances, Neal could defy the odds.
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