Neal enters the fourth year of his rookie deal
The New York Giants have declined to pick up offensive tackle Evan Neal’s fifth year option, per GM Joe Schoen.
The Giants’ general manager said as much in remarks at the end of the Giants’ draft.
Neal was Schoen’s second draft pick as the Giants’ general manager, selecting him seventh overall out of Alabama in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Giants intended for Neal to be a long-term bookend for left tackle Andrew Thomas, however that never came to pass.
Neal flashed upside as a rookie, however he never took the expected step forward in his development. Instead, he’s been marred by inconsistency, injury, and downright poor play.
Neal did show improvement when he was reinserted into the starting lineup after recovering from the ankle injury he suffered in 2023. However that wasn’t enough for the Giants to invest in his fifth year.
Neal is expected to compete for the right guard position, and possibly right tackle, over the summer. This becomes a true “Prove It” year for Neal, who could find himself a former Giant if he doesn’t establish himself and give the team a convincing reason to keep him.
Conversely, Schoen confirmed that the team would be picking up fellow 2022 first rounder Kayvon Thibodeaux’s option after the selecting EDGE Abdul Carter on Thursday.
