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...
Cavaliers May Already Have Their Best Answer For A Thin Frontcourt
The Cavaliers still have an open 14th roster spot, and with cap space tight, the frontcourt is one area that keeps standing out as a practical need. Cleveland has already added wing help in Peyton Watson and Mario Hezonja and drafted Meleek Thomas, but behind Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, the team could still use a low-cost big who can soak up minutes and give the rotation some insurance.
Olivier Sarr fits that search as well as anyone on the current list of possibilities. The 6-foot-10 center has previous two-way experience with Cleveland, and his combination of size and G League production makes him a logical candidate if the Cavaliers decide to use that final opening on a true interior presence rather than another developmental flier. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Still Have One Important Backcourt Job Up For Grabs
The Cavaliers have spent much of the Donovan Mitchell era searching for a reliable backup point guard, and the list of names who have cycled through that spot shows how unsettled it has been. Ty Jerome, Ricky Rubio, Raul Neto, Craig Porter Jr., Lonzo Ball and Dennis Schroder have all taken a turn trying to stabilize the second unit, but Cleveland still heads into the season with that reserve backcourt role very much open.
Now the attention shifts to a younger crop, with the Cavaliers using draft capital on Tyrese Proctor and Meleek Thomas and setting up a training camp battle that should be worth watching. Proctor, Thomas and Porter are expected to compete for minutes behind Mitchell, and coach Kenny Atkinson will be looking for a guard who can bring both consistency and versatility to a bench that has not yet found a settled answer. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Still Have A Late Offseason Question Worth Watching
The NBAs offseason shake-up has already changed the leagues balance, and Cleveland is still watching the board with plenty of other teams. Even with the biggest dominoes falling elsewhere, there are roster spots around the league that remain open, and front offices are expected to keep tinkering before the 2026-27 season tips off on Oct. 20. For the Cavaliers, that kind of late-summer movement can matter, especially when the margins in the East are so thin.
What makes this stretch worth following is how many situations are still unresolved. Some players are widely expected to stay put, while others are lingering on unsigned deals or non-guaranteed contracts, leaving clubs room to change course if the right option appears. Cleveland does not need a splash to keep its eyes on this market, but one more quiet addition or a surprise decision elsewhere could still shape the final look of the roster. [Read more 🡒]