Evan Neal, the New York Giants’ former 7th overall pick in 2022, has had an up-and-down start to his promising career. However, after being booed by the Giants faithful earlier this year, Neal’s response certainly did not endear him more to a fanbase that is yet to see a reliably strong offensive line in nearly a decade.
So, some have been asking whether Neal, who has struggled as the team’s right tackle opposite highly impressive, Pro-Bowl calibre left tackle, Andrew Thomas, would benefit from a move inside to guard. And Neal, never the one to mince his words, came out with a defiant response, per JPA Football.
#Giants OT Evan Neal on if he would consider playing guard:
“As soon as I stepped out the womb, I stepped out an offensive tackle.” pic.twitter.com/tZOUe3ImB4
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) December 7, 2023
Why Would The New York Giants Move Evan Neal To Guard?
Well, for a variety of reasons.
Firstly, there is a long history of players, often drafted high, who have struggled on the perimeter that have thrived after having kicked inside to guard. Most notably, former All-Pro and 5 x Pro Bowler, Brandon Scherff – who moved inside to guard after struggling initially at offensive tackle, the original position at which he was drafted as the 5th overall pick.
Secondly, Neal’s play seems to naturally lend itself to a move inside. Whilst Neal struggles against pace on the edge, where he lacks the quickness to keep up with elite speed rushers. He does not, at this point, have the skillset to pass protect efficiently when put on an island at right tackle.
Yet, as a run blocker, especially on double teams, Neal is prolific. His tag teams are almost never split, and he often manages to generates many plus yards for Saquon Barkley and the rest of the Giants’ running back room.
Evan Neal is a really effective blocker on double teams. Operating inside would be no problem for him. pic.twitter.com/CAZfeT8X8Q
— Coach Gene Clemons (@geneclemons) December 2, 2023
To be able to have Neal help out tackle Andrew Thomas on power run plays, or take out hefty nose tackle alongside rookie John Michael Schmitz, would be a great boon to this otherwise struggling Giants offensive line.
But, despite all this, it seems like Evan Neal is steadfast in his conviction that he is in fact, a tackle, not a guard. Obviously if he can, Neal would prefer to stay at tackle – bigger contracts and greater prestige being the main drivers of this decision. Equally, once you kick inside to guard, its hard to move back out, whereas if Neal manages to figure it out at tackle and then kick inside in a few years when he’s a bit older and slower, that option will still remain open.
And, as the Giants know as well as anybody, good offensive tackles do not grow on trees, and finding good ones normally requires a high draft pick or a very large free agent contract – whilst solid guards are far less elusive, especially as New York, at present, has no in house replacement for Neal.
So, whilst the Giants ponder this difficult decision with Neal, they will host the Packers on Monday Night Football, where they are 6 point underdogs – in a repeat of last year’s London game.