To say the start of his NFL career hasn't gone to plan would be a massive understatement. When the New York Giants took former Alabama Crimson Tide standout Evan Neal with the No. 7 overall pick, people in the Big Apple were hoping he'd be a stud tackle for the next decade.
So far, no dice, as people have raced to call Neal a first-round bust due to his poor first three years in the league. After a rough 2022, things only got worse for Neal in 2023. Then last season, he barely saw the field.
Because of this, Giants fans have been calling for Brian Daboll to move him to the inside to play guard, as he hasn't been able to improve on the outside. According to ESPN's Jordan Raanan, though, it looks like Daboll is having a change of heart and a position change is on the way for the 6-7, 340-pounder:
⚠️ The expectation is that Evan Neal will be moved to guard at some point this offseason, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan #NYGiants pic.twitter.com/mHd6cq1LtO
— Fireside Giants (@FiresideGiants) March 7, 2025
Alabama's Evan Neal is expected to move to guard this offseason for the NY Giants
"The expectation is that Evan Neal will be moved to guard at some point this offseason," Raanan said. "But that still is not likely to stop the Giants from addressing the right guard position with a proven veteran."
Neal was a superstar for the Tide, which led to the Giants taking him in the first round in 2022. With Kayvon Thibodeaux being taken at No. 5 overall that spring, the hope was that the two would help turn the Giants around.
That hasn't been the case, as New York holds the No. 3 overall pick this year after going 3-14 in 2024. Last season, the G-Men went 6-11, leading to them drafting stud wideout Malik Nabers at No. 6 overall. Come late April, there's buzz that the Giants will prioritize a quarterback, with Cam Ward being high on their list.
As for Neal, he doesn't want his legacy in East Rutherford to be known for him being one of the worst first-round selections in Big Blue history. He still has some time to change the narrative surrounding his name, with a move to guard opening the door for him to make a big impact on the Giants the way everyone thought he would. Tide fans sure are hoping he'll be able to do so.