The term “bust” in terms of analyzing a highly-touted college player’s NFL career is one of the harshest words to use, yet New York Giants offensive lineman Evan Neal has been inching toward that territory.
Taken No. 7 overall at the 2022 Draft, the Alabama product has been a non-factor at the professional level.
During his rookie season, he was the 82nd-ranked tackle by Pro Football Focus out of 83 qualifying players with a grade of 41.1. Last season as a member of one of the worst offensive lines in NFL history that allowed 85 sacks, Neal’s grade was even worse at 39.8, ranking 83rd out of 85 qualifying tackles.
He has dealt with injury issues throughout his first two seasons as well, including an ankle injury that ended his 2023 early. The ensuing rehab featured a setback that forced him out of the first portion of training camp — an absence that put him further behind the proverbial eight-ball.
As the Giants prepare for their final preseason game of the summer against the Jets, Neal is listed as the fourth-string right tackle on the team’s unofficial depth chart behind Jermaine Eluemunor, Joshua Ezeudu, and Joshua Miles.
Yet assistant general manager Brandon Brown is keeping the faith in Neal as he enters his third pro season.
“I think when you look at the development of players, not just offensive linemen in general, you always want to give at least a minimum of three years,” Brown said. “I mean, we all loved how [left tackle Andrew Thomas] started, right? And everyone has their own path, whether it’s coaching changes, whether it’s coaching style, whether it’s injuries, or just a transition to the style of play. I just think with Evan, he’s working to get healthy right now and I appreciate his mindset right now. He wants to do whatever’s best for the team, and I have faith in him. We’re not losing any faith in Evan right now. I think, right now, him stringing together good days of practice, going into a joint practice… and then having that last preseason game, it’s all going to be really a springboard for him to get back on the track that he wants to be on.”
Considering the offseason general manager Joe Schoen had, the Giants are not likely to hand Neal starting time, however.
In order to revamp the porous offensive line, Schoen brought in Eluemunor along with fellow veterans Jon Runyan Jr. Aaron Stinnie, and Greg Van Roten to support two mainstays from last season, Thomas and second-year center John Michael Schmitz Jr.
