New York Giants
The New York Giants have made one of the more unexpected moves of the early offseason, re signing offensive lineman Evan Neal to a one year, minimum salary deal despite four largely disappointing seasons that ended with him spending most of last year as a healthy scratch. A source confirmed the signing to ESPN.
The decision reflects the philosophy of new head coach John Harbaugh, who appears willing to set aside Neal’s troubled history with the organization and give the physically imposing 6 foot 7, 340 pound lineman a genuine opportunity to show what he can become under new leadership.
A first round pick who never found his footing
When the Giants selected Neal seventh overall in the 2022 NFL Draft out of the University of Alabama, the expectation was that they were getting a foundational piece for their offensive line for years to come. What followed was a four year stretch that tested the patience of the organization, the fan base and, at times, Neal himself.
Neal began his career at tackle, where he struggled consistently enough that the Giants eventually moved him to guard in search of a better fit. Even at the new position, he was unable to separate himself from the competition. Ahead of last season, he was given every opportunity to win the starting right guard job and lost it to veteran Greg Van Roten, leaving Neal buried on the depth chart under former coach Brian Daboll.
The statistical picture is stark. Neal’s career pass block win rate of 82.9% would rank last among all qualifying offensive linemen during the span of his career a number that reflects just how difficult his transition to the NFL has been for a player selected in the top 10.
Last season ended before it really began
Neal’s 2025 season was effectively lost before it concluded in any meaningful way. Despite not dressing regularly, he landed on injured reserve in November with a hamstring injury. A return window was opened, but he was shut down again within days due to back and neck soreness. He finished the season without being activated, leaving him with 29 career games played and 27 starts across his entire NFL tenure a low number for a former top-10 pick now entering his fifth year.
The Giants declined the fifth year option on his rookie contract last offseason, a decision that signaled their lack of confidence in his trajectory under the previous regime. The minimum salary re signing under Harbaugh represents a dramatically different kind of commitment low risk financially, but meaningful in terms of the opportunity it provides.
Off field moments that added to a difficult tenure
Neal’s time in New York has not been without controversy off the field either. During the 2023 season, he made headlines after responding to booing fans in a way that drew significant criticism. His comments, in which he dismissed his detractors and compared himself to a lion unconcerned with the opinions of lesser creatures, were widely reported and contributed to a tense relationship between the player and the fan base that followed him for the remainder of his time under the previous coaching staff.
With Harbaugh now in charge, those moments are apparently being set aside entirely. The new coach is focused on what Neal might become rather than what he has been.
What the Giants see and what they need
The case for giving Neal another opportunity rests largely on his physical profile. At 6 foot 7 and 340 pounds, he possesses the raw tools that made him a top 10 pick in the first place. Translating that size and athleticism into effective play at the NFL level has proven to be the challenge, but Harbaugh and his staff appear to believe there is still untapped potential worth pursuing at a price point that carries essentially no financial risk for the organization.
The timing also makes practical sense for New York. The Giants do not currently have a clear cut starter at right guard on their roster, which means there is a genuine opening for Neal to compete for and potentially win a starting job something he was not able to do under Daboll’s staff despite being given the chance. A new coaching staff, a defined role to compete for and a minimum contract that removes any pressure of living up to a significant financial investment could combine to create conditions more favorable to a breakthrough than anything Neal has experienced so far.
Whether he can finally capitalize on his potential at 25 years old remains to be seen, but the Giants under Harbaugh have decided the answer is worth finding out.
