Evan Neal was a dominant force over his three seasons at Alabama, helping to lead the Crimson Tide to the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship before becoming the seventh overall pick of the New York Giants in the 2021 NFL Draft. That’s when the former five-star’s ascendant trajectory began to slow. Now, heading into his fourth season in the NFL, it’s in danger of crashing back to earth.
Neal, one of the biggest players in the NFL at 6-foot-7 and 350 pounds, struggled to deal with the speed of NFL pass rushers and failed to establish himself at right tackle across his first three seasons in the league. So, now in the final year of his contract, he’s making a move to right guard, and Saturday night’s preseason game against the New York Jets served as his debut.
Evan Neal clinging to NFL future with move to right guard
The former first-round pick played 32 snaps at right guard on Saturday night and was pleased with his performance on the interior of the offensive line, where he hasn’t played since his true freshman season in Tuscaloosa, when he took 666 snaps at left guard.
“I just have to continue to just work hard and keep the main thing the main thing. But, I was pleased with the night. It wasn’t perfect, but I was pleased,” Neal told the media after the game. “It’s been a while since I played guard. For my first showing as a guard in the NFL, I think it was solid.”
For what it's worth, Pro Football Focus disagrees with Neal’s assessment. The veteran was given a 47.6 overall grade for his performance, with sub-50 marks for both run and pass blocking. He allowed one quarterback pressure on a play that got first-round rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart hit.
I don't think it was a bad game for Evan Neal, but this was not a good rep from him.
— Dan Schneier (@DanSchneierNFL) August 17, 2025
I didn't post this clip because of that. I posted it to say that with how confident Jaxson Dart was playing -- I am like 95% sure he pinpoint dots this backshoulder if not for the blown block. pic.twitter.com/uDKZYsSCVs
More plays like that certainly won’t help Neal’s case for the starting right guard job and for extending his career in the NFL, but there is hope for an oversized tackle moving to guard.
Fellow first-rounder Mekhi Becton, who went to the Jets at No. 11 overall in 2020, made the transition to right guard with the Eagles last season, and not only helped catalyze a 2,000-yard season from Saquon Barkley and a Super Bowl run, but also cashed in with a two-year $20 million contract from the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason.
That is the hope for Neal as he enters this new chapter of his NFL career, but it's not a guarantee to work out, especially because there’s no guarantee Neal gets the opportunity for a career renaissance.
Veteran guard Greg Van Roten is currently listed as the starting right guard on the Giants' depth chart. Though Neal was pleased, it will take a better performance than he submitted on Saturday night to unseat Van Roten and play his way onto the field for Week 1 of the regular season.