After the Giants released Evan Neal on Sunday, there was at least a sliver of a chance his story in East Rutherford wasn’t finished. Because he’s a vested veteran, Neal could have latched on anywhere he wanted, including back with New York on the practice squad.
That door is closed now.
The Giants have filled all 17 practice-squad spots, and Neal is not among them. Joe Schoen and John Harbaugh started building the group on Monday, bringing back Braxton Berrios, Dalen Cambre and, surprisingly, Jalin Hyatt.
They only had 13 names in place that day, which left Tuesday as another possible path for Neal to return. But when practice wrapped, four more players had joined the mix - and Neal still wasn’t one of them.
Unless something changes later, the former No. 7 overall pick’s run with the Giants has ended for good. The 25-year-old, 6-foot-7, 340-pound lineman now has to find out whether another team thinks it can solve the problem New York never did.
Seattle is one possible landing spot, even if the fit isn’t obvious at first glance. The Seahawks kept 10 offensive linemen on their initial 53-man roster, so they aren’t exactly hunting for bodies.
But right guard could still be worth a look. Anthony Bradford remains the starter there, though he has had his own pass-protection issues and may not be long for the job beyond this season.
Seattle has also cycled through younger options at the spot without finding much certainty. Neal brings plenty of baggage, but he also came into the league as a top-10 pick for a reason.
The Seahawks could stash him on the practice squad, keep working him at guard, and see whether a change of scenery unlocks something - even if the 12-man fanbase wants no part of the experiment.
Detroit might be the cleanest place for Neal to step back and reset. The Lions are in the middle of an offensive line reshuffle, with Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge now holding the two guard spots.
More importantly, Neal would get to work under Hank Fraley, who has quietly built a reputation as one of the most respected offensive line coaches in football. That kind of setup feels tailor-made for a player who needs structure and patience.
Neal moved inside last season, but he never actually played a regular-season snap at guard. And injuries didn’t help; his season ended in November when he landed on IR, cutting into the practice time he needed to get comfortable with the change.
New Orleans may be the most logical option from a pure roster-fit standpoint. The Saints kept only eight offensive linemen on their initial 53-man roster, which alone makes Neal worth a call.
They also have recent experience with a first-round tackle from the 2022 class moving inside. Trevor Penning, the No. 19 pick in that draft, shifted to guard last season before the Saints eventually sent him to the Chargers.
Neal has traveled a similarly frustrating road a little farther north. The Giants moved him to guard last season after three years of trying and failing to make him work at tackle, and now he’s looking for a new home.
For New Orleans, taking a shot on the massive 25-year-old would fit the pattern almost too neatly.
In Other News...
49ers Suddenly Have A Pass Rush Debate They Cant Ignore
The 49ers are dealing with an edge-rush conversation that has gone from theoretical to unavoidable, thanks to the strain injuries and roster attrition have put on their outside pressure. With the pass rush depth thinner than usual, the idea of adding a proven difference-maker has started to sound less like a luxury and more like a response to the reality around them.
Brian Baldinger pushed that thinking into the spotlight by urging San Francisco to at least explore a trade for Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby, arguing the 49ers need to keep pace with the rest of the NFC West. Crosbys reputation as a disruptive force has made him the obvious name in the discussion, while other analysts have already begun weighing the kind of package it might take and whether the price, along with the risk, would be too steep for a team trying to stay in the race. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Edge Depth Gets Tested At The Worst Possible Time
The 49ers are making an early-season adjustment on the edge, bringing in Khalid Kareem from the Atlanta Falcons practice squad as they head to Melbourne. Kareem is expected to join the team there and could be available for Week 1, giving San Francisco another body at a spot that has already been hit by injury.
Sam Okuayinonus setback has left the 49ers looking for help sooner than planned, and the roster picture still is not fully settled because the team has not announced a corresponding move. For a defense that leans on depth and rotation up front, this kind of swap can matter quickly, especially with the season opener approaching on the other side of the globe. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Suddenly Have Real Trade Deadline Pressure To Go For It
The 49ers are carrying more than just urgency into the stretch run. With the most projected salary cap space for 2026 at $45.8 million, San Francisco has the kind of flexibility that can keep a contender aggressive now and nimble later. General manager John Lynch has already signaled that the club is open to trades if it believes the roster is in position to win and the move makes sense, which is exactly the kind of language that tends to get other teams listening as the deadline approaches.
Pass-rush help is the area most often mentioned around the Niners, and that alone tells you where the pressure is building. Jared Verse has been one of the names floated as a possible target, and his contract status for the next two years only adds to the intrigue for a team that wants more disruption up front without sacrificing long-term control. The question for San Francisco is no longer whether it can afford to chase a difference-maker, but whether this is the moment to spend the capital to do it. [Read more 🡒]