The New York Giants starting five on the offensive line is likely set, but head coach Brian Daboll is still experimenting with his backups to determine which players will fill in for injured or underperforming linemen. Luckily, Big Blue reinforced its depth after they activated Evan Neal off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
At this juncture, the most realistic role for Neal is for him to serve as the swing tackle to begin the regular season, as Art Stapleton noted below. Joshua Ezeudu started at LT for the G-Men in their preseason opener against the Detroit Lions, and the coaching staff had hopes that the third-year offensive lineman could take a step forward. Unfortunately, the former third-round pick performed poorly against second and third-stringers, proving he has no business playing on the outside. This is where Neal can step in.
In an ideal scenario for Giants, I think this is the OL lineup they want right now going into the season:
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) August 11, 2024
LT Andrew Thomas
LG Jon Runyan
C JMS
RG Greg Van Roten
RT Jermaine Eluemunor
IOL Aaron Stinnie
Swing OT Evan Neal
NY Giants could use Evan Neal as the team's swing tackle
Neal had surgery on his ankle in January and has been rehabbing from the injury since. Although his return date is unknown, the former Alabama standout could potentially be back in game action by September.
It became clear that Ezeudu is not the answer at tackle. There are still NY fans who want to shift Neal back to guard, but that is becoming more and more unlikely. As poorly as he played at tackle last year, he can't possibly be much worse than what we saw from Ezeudu, who should be the one to move to the inside.
At swing tackle, Neal can fill in on the left or right side when needed. The versatility of Jermaine Eluemunor could be significant down the stretch — he can play tackle or guard, and there's a chance that he has to move to the interior at some point in the season. That would open up more playing time for Neal.
At swing tackle, Neal can fill in on the left or right side when needed. The versatility of Jermaine Eluemunor could be significant down the stretch — he can play tackle or guard, and there's a chance that he has to move to the interior at some point in the season. That would open up more playing time for Neal.