The Raiders’ Alex Leatherwood first-round pick became emblematic of a regime that struggled in the draft. Leatherwood was off the roster after one season, being waived in 2022. He never started another game following his 2021 rookie season.
A year after the Raiders missed on Leatherwood, the Giants missed on one of his college teammates. Chosen seventh overall in 2022, Evan Neal struggled at right tackle and has not seen the field after a conversion to guard this year. The Giants are believed to be ready to move on, and Neal is as well. The current Raiders regime has expressed a degree of interest.
Las Vegas discussed Neal with New York earlier this month, according to The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson. While these talks are classified as exploratory in nature, it is interesting to hear the Raiders were interested in the contract-year blocker.
Neal played right tackle opposite Leatherwood for the 2020 Crimson Tide, a team that won a national championship. The Mac Jones blockers obviously did not carry that form to the NFL level, with Neal receiving more chances than his former Crimson Tide teammate. Neal has made 27 starts with the Giants, including seven last season. Pro Football Focus graded him as the NFL’s second-worst tackle in 2022 and ’23, and an ankle fracture interfered with his development as well.
With Neal viewed as a near-consensus top-10 value in 2022, compared to Leatherwood being deemed a Jon Gruden/Mike Mayock reach in the moment, it would stand to reason a team will take a flier on him in free agency next year. But time is running out for the 25-year-old blocker. It is clear the Raiders are one of the teams with a more positive view of Neal, who will be viewed as a reclamation project now or if/when he leaves New York in free agency.
The Giants have used ex-Raiders starters Greg Van Roten, who beat out Neal in the team’s right guard competition this summer, and Jermaine Eluemunor on the right side of their offensive line. The Raiders have used Jackson Powers-Johnson as their primary RG, with DJ Glaze at RT for the second straight season. Alex Cappa resides as a guard backup.