There’s a decent-sized gap between Greg Van Roten’s NFL journey and Evan Neal’s. One was an undrafted free agent who had to claw for relevance, starting his first NFL game at 28. The other was a top-10 selection who was expected to anchor the right side of the New York Giants’ offensive line across Andrew Thomas.
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You could say they’re on very different trajectories. But at training camp, their paths finally crossed, not just on the unofficial depth chart, but in a way that says a lot about how things are shaping up inside the Giants’ offensive line room. Van Roten might be helping Neal acclimate, sure, but he also might be the one keeping him off the field.
And based on his comments Tuesday, he knows it.
Greg Van Roten’s mentorship adds twist to Evan Neal position battle
The Giants have made it clear they still believe Neal has something in him... just not at tackle. His move to guard is one of the biggest storylines of camp, and while some reports have painted a glowing picture of his progress, the guy who’s directly in his way had a more grounded take.
“It’s not easy to move inside, especially at this level,” Van Roten told reporters. “But he’s taking it in stride, he’s trying to learn every day, work on his technique, and improve.”
That’s about as measured as it gets. Which, ironically, is what makes it so telling. It wasn’t a ‘he looks great’ quote or a ‘he’s crushing it’ endorsement. It felt like a calculated answer from someone who knows how long it actually takes to adjust to life on the inside. And it sure sounded like someone who’s still holding the edge in the competition, too.
Despite reports that Neal’s been holding up well inside, Van Roten was listed as the starter at right guard on the Giants’ first unofficial depth chart. It doesn’t mean everything, but it’s not nothing either.
But make no mistake about it. Van Roten wants the job. This isn’t a feel-good subplot where he hands off the spot to the kid and fades into the background. He started every game last year, played over 1,100 snaps, and re-signed on a $3.75 million deal. He didn’t come back to be on the sidelines.
But that’s also what makes this whole thing so fascinating. GVR has nothing to prove, but everything to protect. Neal has everything to prove, and nothing to protect. So for now, it's the guy who started all last season's job to lose... while also politely hinting that Neal’s timeline might not be as close as some are making it out to be.
Which is really the quiet part no one wants to say out loud. But Van Roten just kinda did.