Evan Neal has one last shot to salvage his career with the New York Giants. The final preseason game against the New York Jets on Friday night serves as a critical evaluation for the offensive lineman who has struggled mightily in his first three years. The organization has shown extreme patience, but that patience has a hard limit. Neal must prove he belongs on the 53-man roster this time around.
A Costly Bet on a Struggling Tackle
The Giants have invested heavily in this project, yet the results have been hard to find. According to Yahoo Sports CFB, roughly $100 million was spent by the team on John Harbaugh to bring back franchise pride. They also gave head coach Joe Schoen a new contract extension after drafting Neal in 2022. Despite this support, Neal missed the entire 2025 campaign due to injuries and has been incredibly patient with his development. Now, the team has re-signed him in March to try converting him from tackle to guard. This move suggests the front office sees him as a backup option rather than a starter. He allowed 11 sacks and 85 pressures in his first three years, per reports. Those numbers are hard to ignore when the roster spot is on the line.
The Battle for a Backup Guard Spot
Neal is not the only player in the mix for a job. He will likely fight with Aaron Stinnie for the backup guard role. The Giants plan to go into the 2026 season with nine offensive linemen, which means only a few spots are open for players who are not starters. An exhibition clash with the New York Jets could determine Neal’s future, according to Yahoo Sports CFB. The consensus is that the team needs reliable depth, and Neal has not shown he can be that yet. He will try to prove the organization right in the team’s final preseason game on Friday night. If he cannot handle the pressure, he will be the first to go.
One Last Stand at MetLife
The clock is ticking, and the Giants cannot afford to carry a player who cannot stay on the field. Neal’s history of poor performance and missed time makes his situation very shaky. Evan Neal has received remarkable patience from the team even after a poor performance and missing the entire 2025 campaign. That patience ends Friday. If he fails to show improvement against the Jets, the Giants will have to move on.
