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...
Mariners Take A Chance On A Former Top Prospect With Upside
The Mariners added a familiar kind of lottery ticket to their pitching depth, signing right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson to a minor-league contract and sending him to Triple-A Tacoma. Once regarded as one of the better young arms in the system, Woods Richardson has already seen the majors with both the Blue Jays and Twins, and his path has taken him through a designation for assignment by Toronto before he elected free agency.
For Seattle, the move fits the sort of low-cost gamble contenders often make when they believe there is still something to unlock. Woods Richardson gives the organization another arm to evaluate in Tacoma, where the Mariners can keep a close eye on a pitcher who made his big-league debut in 2022 and is still young enough to factor if the stuff and command come together again. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Just Created A Connor Joe Question Fans Can't Ignore
The Mariners latest roster shuffle left Connor Joe in a familiar but uneasy spot. After Seattle designated Joe and right-hander Nolan Kingham for assignment to make room for Lzaro Montes and Hoby Milner on the 40-man roster, both players cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma, keeping the move from being the end of the road for either player just yet.
Joe now has a decision to make, since he has the right to elect free agency, and the Mariners have not indicated whether he plans to stay in the organization or test the market. Kinghams path is more straightforward because his service time means he has to accept the assignment, but Joes situation is the one that lingers for Seattle, where every roster spot matters and every fringe move can hint at what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners May Have Found A Better Use For Their Latest Pitching Add
The Mariners added another arm to their system by signing right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson to a minor-league deal and sending him to Triple-A Tacoma. Most of his big-league work has come as a starter, but he has also handled multiple roles this season, which makes him an interesting fit for a Seattle pitching staff that suddenly needs more flexibility.
With rotation depth thinned by an injury, the appeal here is less about where Woods Richardson has traditionally worked and more about where he might help most. Seattle can use pitching in just about any form right now, and his ability to cover innings gives the club another option if it wants to patch a game together out of the bullpen or lean on a bulk reliever while the roster sorts itself out. [Read more 🡒]