At the NFL owner’s meeting, New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen mentioned that former top-10 draft pick Evan Neal is “open” to switching from offensive tackle to guard, a move that many fans have been advocating for. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan later echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Neal is likely to make the move to guard. With Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor firmly established as the starting tackles, Raanan noted that shifting Neal to guard seems logical, especially considering his struggles at tackle, where he ranked 74th out of 76 qualifying tackles in pass-block win rate (82.9%) since entering the league.
Schoen added that Neal is “willing to do whatever he can do to help the team.”
The Giants should have made this positional change last year, allowing them to evaluate Neal at guard before deciding on his fifth-year option. Now, with that opportunity missed, the team needs to act swiftly to avoid losing value from a former No. 7 overall pick. If Neal can find success at guard, the Giants might still trade him or extend him long-term; otherwise, he could be a wasted investment.
It’s easy to forget that Neal is only 25 years old in September, so there’s still potential for him to develop, but the Giants need to make the move before it’s too late.
Evan Neal
Additionally, the Giants should consider shifting Joshua Ezeudu, a failed third-round pick, to guard as well. Like Neal, Ezeudu has struggled at tackle, and it’s time for both players to compete for spots inside. The Giants have added veteran swing tackle James Hudson III and depth at offensive tackle with Stone Forsythe, signaling that Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are moving on from the idea of waiting for Neal and Ezeudu to succeed at tackle.
This creates a crowded guard position, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing given the Giants’ injury history. However, it does lead to a competitive camp for the interior line spots. If healthy, Jon Runyan Jr. would likely start at left guard, with either Greg Van Roten or UDFA Jake Kubas competing for right guard.
This would result in a seven-way competition for the guard spots, including Neal and Ezeudu, before the NFL draft. While most of these players are competing for a roster spot, the hope is that this competition helps the team build stronger depth on the offensive line. Adding more tackle insurance in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft might also be a wise move.
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