Giants Decline Fifth-Year Option on Evan Neal, Paving Way to 2026 Free Agency
New York Giants offensive tackle Evan Neal is set to hit free agency following the 2025 NFL season, as the team has opted not to exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. General manager Joe Schoen confirmed the decision during Saturday’s post-draft press conference.
A former standout at Alabama, Neal was a consensus All-American in 2021 before being selected seventh overall by the Giants in the 2022 NFL Draft. Like all first-round picks, Neal signed a four-year contract with a fifth-year team option. His deal, originally worth $24.551 million, includes a $1.1 million base salary and a $2.953 million roster bonus for the 2025 season.
By declining the fifth-year option, the Giants avoided locking in a $16.685 million salary for Neal in 2026 — a figure based on the average of the 3rd to 25th highest-paid offensive linemen in the league over the last five years.
Evan Neal,
Neal will now become an unrestricted free agent when his contract ends in March 2026.
Injuries have limited Neal to 29 games over three seasons. He missed four contests in 2022 and 10 in 2023, later undergoing ankle surgery in January 2024. After starting 2024 on the PUP list, Neal began the season behind free-agent signee Jermaine Eluemunor at right tackle. He reclaimed a starting role in November after Eluemunor shifted to left tackle following Andrew Thomas’ season-ending injury.
With both Thomas and Eluemunor expected back in 2025, there’s been internal discussion about possibly moving Neal to guard. However, head coach Brian Daboll offered few specifics. “We haven’t been on the practice field yet,” Daboll said. “We have an idea of what we’re going to do. He’ll be flexible. He’ll do anything he can do to help the team.”
The Giants selected just one offensive lineman during the 2025 NFL Draft: Purdue’s Marcus Mbow in the fifth round.
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