The Browns have a chance to take a low-cost swing on a former top pick who suddenly hit the market.
The Giants are moving on from Evan Neal, the offensive lineman they selected seventh overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, and Cleveland could make sense as a landing spot if it wants to keep adding young talent to the room. Neal is only 25, and with the Browns already in a decent place up front, a move like this would not come with the kind of pressure that usually follows a player drafted that high.
That matters here because Neal’s NFL run has not matched the billing. He was a three-year starter at Alabama and arrived in the league with plenty of accolades - First-Team All-American, First-Team All-SEC - but his pro career never took off.
He appeared in 13 games in 2022, seven in 2023 and nine in 2024, then missed the entire 2025 season. New York also tried shifting him from tackle to right guard, though he never actually played a snap there.
The Giants’ decision to cut him came as teams across the league trimmed their rosters to 53 players on Sunday, August 30, ahead of the start of the 2026 season. Cleveland had its own tough decisions to make, parting with a mix of young players, veterans and developmental pieces, but the Browns also now have the kind of flexibility that can open the door for intriguing free-agent pickups.
Neal fits that category. There is obvious risk, but not much of a financial or roster burden if Cleveland wanted to bring him in on a short-term, inexpensive deal or stash him on the practice squad. That would give him a chance to reset without being asked to immediately carry the load.
Before the release, Giants offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren had pointed to Neal’s progress during the offseason.
“I’ve seen great growth from Evan in his ability to take coaching and his ability to try to understand not just how things look on paper, but, like, what certain alignments mean to him,” he was quoted saying in an article on Giants OnSI. “I think he’s seeing more in his stance, and he’s playing with more confidence..."
A Browns front office looking for more project players should have Neal near the top of the list. Cleveland has seen players turn things around before, and Neal could be the next one to try.
In Other News...
Browns Have A Low-Risk O-Line Gamble Worth Watching
The Giants decision to cut Evan Neal puts a former first-round pick back on the market at a time when teams looking for offensive line help are always willing to kick the tires. Neals career has been uneven since he entered the league, with 29 games across three seasons and the entire 2025 season lost, but that kind of pedigree still tends to draw attention from clubs that believe a change of scenery can help.
For Cleveland, the appeal is obvious enough to make this a story worth watching. The Browns have spent enough time searching for stability up front to at least consider whether Neal fits as a low-risk swing, even if no official move has been reported. It is the kind of depth gamble that does not require much to make sense, but it also only matters if a team believes the upside is still hiding somewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Browns 53-Man Roster Leaves One Big Quarterback Question
The Browns got through roster cutdown day with a few notable choices that will shape the early weeks of the season, but the biggest takeaway might be what they did at quarterback. Cleveland carried four quarterbacks on its initial 53-man roster, then moved Dillon Gabriel to injured reserve because of a back injury, leaving the room in a more unusual spot than most teams would prefer as the opening week approaches.
Elsewhere, the front office made a clear statement about the future by keeping all 10 members of its 2026 draft class in the organization, with nine on the active roster and one on the reserve/non-football illness list. It gives the Browns a deep look at a young class right away, but it also leaves the quarterback picture hanging over the roster in a way that could matter well beyond the first few weeks. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Left One Roster Question Hanging After Waiver Day
Waiver day gave the Browns a little roster movement, but also a clearer look at where the depth chart still feels unfinished. Cleveland used its No. 6 priority to claim rookie cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. from the Bills, then opened a spot by releasing veteran edge rusher Julian Okwara, a move that left the team with only three defensive ends on the roster.
The more interesting part may be what Cleveland did not do. The Browns passed on young tight ends Justin Joly and Cameron Latu, both of whom were claimed elsewhere, even while keeping their preseason look at Mike Hall Jr. as an edge defender. With the roster now trimmed and a few decisions already made, the remaining question is whether the Browns are truly set at that spot or still leaving themselves room to adjust. [Read more 🡒]