Giants release former first-rounder Evan Neal

Most Giants beat writers spent the last four months of Evan Neal’s rookie contract outright laughing at the idea that he’d return. But there’s something about Joe Schoen’s sweet voice. Or maybe the realities of NFL life. Or maybe nobody else gave him an offer. Anyway, here’s Evan Neal, apparently back with the Giants as a backup on the offensive line for another season.

He ended the year on injured reserve. Neal didn’t play a single game all season after disappointing in the second and third years of his rookie deal. The former seventh overall pick will be a free agent this year and could pick up some interest from teams who want to see if they can turn his career around.

Neal moved from tackle to guard during the offseason but hasn’t played a snap of football this year. He could technically return this year, but that sounds unlikely at this point. The former No. 7 overall pick will head into free agency as a true salvage project for another team.

Neal was selected seventh overall by the Giants in 2022 to play right tackle. Injuries have led to just 29 games played in three seasons for the 24-year-old, including 27 starts. Neal has struggled amidst the injuries; he posted a 61.2 PFF grade last season, good for No. 73 out of 140 qualifying tackles. The Giants signed James Hudson III and Stone Forsythe to back up at tackle, leaving Neal - who graded better as a run blocker than a pass blocker - to kick inside and compete for the right guard spot. It is a contract year for Neal, so his attempt to become a starter at guard will be crucial to watch throughout the season.

Rather than getting $16.685 million guaranteed, Neal, who has started 14 games the last three years after being picked seventh overall in the draft, will become a free agent after the 2025 season. Neal had a career-best 61.2 PFF offensive grade in 2024, a season he spent mostly at right tackle, buoyed by some strong efforts as a run blocker. He’ll head into 2025 as a backup behind Jermaine Eluemunior and Andrew Thomas and isn’t guaranteed a roster spot.

Right tackle Evan Neal is questionable with a hip issue. Head coach Brian Daboll called both week to week on Wednesday. It’s safe to assume Eluemunor won’t play through the doubtful tag while Neal appears to be on the wrong side fo questionable given Daboll’s comments. Drew Lock will be an easy target for the Saints’ pass-rush on Sunday.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll called Neal and left tackle Jermaine Eluemunor week to week with hip and quad injuries. Drew Lock will be behind backups at both tackle spots this week and possibly for the rest of the season.

We don’t know the severity of Neal’s injury at this time, but it was the last thing Neal needed in his first return to action since Week 9 of last season. Neal was activated off the PUP list last week after being sidelined with an ankle injury through much of training camp, so it’s possible this is the same ankle that’s been plaguing him for the last 10 months or so.

Neal has been working his way back from an ankle injury he suffered last November. That injury later required surgery, which Neal underwent in January. The third-year tackle will now re-join the Giants but could be facing legitimate competition for playing time with Jermaine Eluemunor and Greg Van Roten occupying the right tackle and right guard positions. Neal was drafted No. 7 overall by the Giants in 2022 but has underwhelmed thus far. We’ll get a better sense of how things could shake out later this week once he’s on the field and taking snaps with the offense.

Neal is entering his third year in the league and has yet to live up to the potential that made him the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Presumably still rehabbing from an ankle injury that required surgery back in January, Neal was believed to be ready to return close to camp. Instead, he was placed on the PUP list at the start of training camp, and little has been said of when he may return to the field. When he does return, it’s possible Neal will be without a starting job after it was reported earlier that Jermaine Eluemunor would man the right tackle spot while Greg Van Roten slots in at right guard.