Evan Neal's $16.7M 5th-Year Contract Option Declined by Giants After 2025 NFL Draft

The New York Giants are declining Evan Neal's fifth-year contract option for the 2026 season, general manager Joe Schoen announced Saturday.

Neal had a solid start to his career after the Giants picked him seventh overall out of Alabama in 2022. His rookie year saw him start 13 games at right tackle, though part of his season was taken away due to a knee injury.

After a promising start in 2022, Neal fell victim to injuries in 2023, playing just seven games because of an ankle injury. That injury eventually required offseason surgery.

The offseason surgery meant Neal wasn't ready to go for the Giants' training camp in 2024, and he ended up losing his starting spot at right tackle to Jermaine Eluemunor.

While he wasn't the starter going into the season, Neal still started a handful of games due to several injuries to the Giants' offensive linemen. Neal recorded a 61.2 PFF grade in 2024.

All in all, Neal has had a somewhat disappointing start to his NFL career, mainly due to injuries holding him back.

While the Giants declined his fifth-year option, it's still possible he returns on a new contract when the time comes. He'll look to make the most of the upcoming season as he works toward a new deal.