Giants' Evan Neal Reportedly Will Move From RT to RG After Declined Contract Option

The New York Giants declined Evan Neal's fifth-year option, but they will give the offensive lineman the chance to prove himself at a new position in 2025.

Per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (h/t Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams), Neal will compete with Greg Van Roten and Aaron Stinnie for the starting right guard job after spending most of his career at right tackle.

The signings of free agent offensive linemen James Hudson III and Stone Forsythe gave New York enough flexibility to let Neal try to earn a spot at right guard while Jermaine Eluemunor holds down the starting right tackle position.

Williams noted that Neal has not played guard since his freshman season at Alabama in 2019. He was the Crimson Tide's right tackle as a sophomore and moved to left tackle in 2021.

The move comes as Neal looks to put together a strong year in hopes of getting a new contract from either the Giants or another team. Neal missed out on $16.7 million since New York declined his contract option, and he'll now play the 2025 season on the final year of his rookie deal.

Neal, who missed last year's training camp while recovering from offseason ankle surgery, lost his starting job at right tackle to Eluemunor in 2024. He still ended up starting a handful of games due to injuries and recorded a 61.2 PFF grade.

While Neal's career hasn't gone the way he would have hoped, the change of position could work out for him as it has for others. Mekhi Becton, now with the Los Angeles Chargers, shifted from tackle to guard last year with the Philadelphia Eagles, and it revived his career and helped him earn a $20 million contract with the Chargers this offseason.

Perhaps Neal's career will follow a similar trajectory.