When the going gets tough, the tough get... New York Giants draft bust Evan Neal. At least, that’s what the Minnesota Vikings might be thinking.
For those who don’t know, the Vikings’ offensive line is struggling this year. The hodgepodge group has been decimated by injuries and inconsistency, so much so that Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay believes the only way they stay competitive is to pick up the phone and call the G‑Men.
The thought is Minnesota’s offensive line is so banged up, and they’re still fringe contenders, that in order to save their season from epic collapse, the best possible trade is to target the 6-foot-7, 340-pound mountain of a lineman. Essentially, the Vikings take a flier on a once-upon-a-time top-10 pick for a seventh-round pick, while the Giants pull the plug on the Evan Neal experience while recouping a draft asset, regardless of how middling it might be.
Giants could offload Evan Neal in bizarre trade scenario with Vikings
Kay believes there's a win-win trade for both New York and Minnesota. Kay suggested:
"He [Neal] was relegated to backup guard work this season despite making 27 starts since the G-Men drafted him at No. 7 overall in 2022. He's most experienced at the tackle positions and could slot in to replace [Brian] O'Neill immediately, becoming the latest reclamation project in the Twin Cities under head coach Kevin O'Connell.
The proposed trade is the most bizarre for a lot of reasons, but none wackier than the idea that Evan Neal is the one player who will put the Vikings over the top and into contention. What has Kay seen over the past three-plus years that everyone else hasn’t?
The 25-year-old hasn’t sniffed a snap in 2025, after failing to move from right tackle to the interior, making his inclusion in Kay’s analysis... interesting, to say the least.
The proposal isn’t without its merits. As previously stated, O’Neill will be out for some time, and Kelly was just moved to IR due to concussion concerns. At 2-2, Minnesota’s season is far from over. So if head coach Kevin O’Connell can squeeze every last drop of potential out of Neal, then giving up a late Day 3 pick for the draft bust would be a smart move.
For New York, general manager Joe Schoen has already declined Neal’s fifth-year option. He’s long gone once this season is over. Why not at least get something for him, even if the return is horrifically underwhelming for a once-heralded draft pick?
Listen, it’s a wild trade. The idea that the 25-year-old is the missing piece to a championship push is crazy. Through three-plus seasons, he’s shown anything but. Maybe they follow through, and it somehow works out. At least Schoen and Co. would get something in return.