It's insane to think that the New York Giants drafted Evan Neal in the first round of the NFL Draft four years ago, but not as crazy to think that John Harbaugh is giving him another shot to turn things around. But another team could soon make a similar mistake in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor doesn't have many fans in league circles, including Go Long's Bob McGinn, who gave him an unsavory comparison to Neal due to his clear red flags. And frankly, it wouldn't surprise me at all if Proctor's career turned out exactly like Neal's in New York.
""I didn't like Evan Neal, and this guy is exactly the same. I wanted to like him, too. He has a little bit of movement for being so big. But the game against Auburn, he's just standing around watching. He just teases you and, ultimately, disappoints. Big, good-looking dude but not physical, not a lot of grit. Stands around and watches.""Bob McGinn
Neal and Proctor come with eerily similar measurables (6-foot-7 and 352 pounds vs 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds) that should easily translate to the NFL, but that's about all they have to offer. Not every big receiver will be the next Calvin Johnson, and that same sentiment holds true on the offensive line, which is why every big-bodied Alabama tackle gives Giants fans nightmares.
The similarities between Evan Neal and Kadyn Proctor will give Giants fans PTSD
The 20-year-old was once regarded as a first-round lock, and was mocked as high as the top five before the year, but now has a chance to slip out of the first day entirely. Yes, it's a stacked offensive tackle class, but this isn't prospect fatigue. This is teams learning what Proctor truly is. Evan Neal.
Not only have Francis Mauigoa and Spencer Fano completely lapped him throughout the pre-draft process, but Proctor could fall behind Monroe Freeling, Blake Miller, Caleb Lomu, and Max Iheanachor. Iheanachor has only been playing football for five years, yet he still has far more upside than Proctor.
The All-American tackle is a great athlete, as a 32.5" vertical at his size is absolutely insane. But that really doesn't matter for tackles if you don't have the movement or lateral quickness to deal with the physicality of NFL defensive linemen, it doesn't matter how physically gifted you are.
His 9.28 RAS should give teams some reason to be excited, but for a guy so big, you should expect him getting busy, manhandling defenders and making more pancakes than a local IHOP. But something can be and look like a Lamborghini on the outside and then drive like a 1970s Ford.
On paper, Proctor has all the traits (including size) to become a star, just like his former Alabama OL did, but that's not all it takes to be great. Neal turned out to be an absolute turnstile in pass protection, so even though he was a solid run blocker, he was more of a liability than anything else.
Thankfully the Giants aren't involved in the Proctor sweepstakes and are likely to go defense with their fifth overall pick. The last thing their makeshift OL needs is a clone of Neal, and I fully expect him to follow in his footsteps in more ways than one.