What Happened to Evan Neal?
Evan Neal is an American professional football offensive lineman who was drafted seventh overall by the New York Giants in the 2022 NFL Draft. After struggling with injuries and performance issues at right tackle, he transitioned to guard in 2025 and re-signed with the Giants in March 2026 on a one-year deal, but was ultimately waived by the team on August 30, 2026.
Quick Answer
Evan Neal's tenure with the New York Giants concluded on August 30, 2026, when he was waived by the team during final roster cuts. Drafted seventh overall in 2022, Neal faced challenges with injuries and inconsistent play at right tackle, leading to a position change to guard in 2025. Despite re-signing with the Giants in March 2026 on a veteran-minimum contract, he was unable to secure a roster spot for the upcoming season.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Born in Okeechobee, Florida
Evan Neal was born in Okeechobee, Florida.
Starts college career at Alabama
Neal began his college football career at the University of Alabama, starting all 13 games at left guard as a freshman.
Consensus All-American at Left Tackle
After moving to right tackle in 2020, Neal played left tackle in 2021 and was named a Consensus All-American and First-team All-SEC.
Drafted 7th overall by New York Giants
Evan Neal was selected as the seventh overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
Suffers MCL sprain as a rookie
In Week 8 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Neal suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain, causing him to miss four games before returning in Week 13.
Ankle injury and controversial comments
Neal suffered an ankle injury against the Buffalo Bills, missing subsequent games. Earlier, he made controversial 'lion and sheep' comments regarding booing fans, for which he later apologized.
Placed on injured reserve
The Giants placed Evan Neal on injured reserve, ending his 2023 season.
Undergoes ankle surgery
Neal underwent ankle surgery and was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. He was activated on August 11, 2024.
Giants decline fifth-year option
The New York Giants declined the fifth-year option on Evan Neal's rookie contract, making him a free agent in 2026.
Switches from tackle to guard
During the 2025 offseason, the Giants officially switched Evan Neal's position from tackle to guard.
Placed on injured reserve with hamstring injury
Evan Neal was placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, resulting in him not playing any snaps during the 2025 season.
Re-signs with Giants on one-year deal
Despite previous struggles and his fifth-year option being declined, Neal re-signed with the New York Giants on a one-year, veteran-minimum contract for $1.2 million.
Struggles in preseason game
In a preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, Neal, playing at right guard with the third team, was described as looking 'extremely slow and ponderous'.
Waived by New York Giants
The New York Giants officially released Evan Neal as part of their final roster cuts, ending his tenure with the team.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Evan Neal entered the NFL with high expectations, selected as the seventh overall pick by the New York Giants in the 2022 NFL Draft after a standout college career at Alabama, where he played multiple offensive line positions and won a CFP National Championship. His rookie season in 2022 saw him start 13 regular-season games and two playoff games at right tackle, though it was interrupted by a Grade 2 MCL sprain in Week 8.
However, Neal's professional career quickly became marred by injuries and inconsistent performance. In 2023, he started seven games at right tackle before an ankle injury ended his season, placing him on injured reserve in December. During this period, he also drew criticism for controversial comments comparing himself to a 'lion' and booing fans to 'sheep' after a poor team performance, for which he later apologized. The 2024 season saw him play in nine games with seven starts, but further injury setbacks, including ankle surgery and a rib injury, continued to hinder his development.
The Giants attempted to salvage Neal's career by moving him from tackle to guard during the 2025 offseason. This transition, however, did not immediately yield positive results, as he was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury in November 2025 and did not play a single snap that season. Reflecting the team's diminishing confidence, the Giants declined the fifth-year option on his rookie contract in April 2025, making him a free agent in 2026.
Despite the struggles, the Giants, under a new coaching staff led by John Harbaugh, offered Neal a surprising one-year, veteran-minimum contract worth $1.2 million on March 11, 2026. This move was seen as a 'clean slate' opportunity, with the new staff reportedly seeing untapped potential. Neal spent the offseason and training camp working at guard, initially with the third-team offense, and was considered a 'long shot' to make the roster in early July 2026. While there were reports in mid-August 2026 of him showing 'great growth' and moving up the depth chart, his performance in preseason games was described as 'extremely slow and ponderous'.
Ultimately, the attempt at a career resurgence with the Giants proved unsuccessful. On August 30, 2026, Evan Neal was waived by the New York Giants as the team finalized its 53-man roster. He concluded his Giants career having played 29 games with 27 starts, primarily at right tackle, and had not played since 2024.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Evan Neal made different choices?