To replace Thomas, New York could turn to its seventh overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft in Evan Neal. The 24-year-old started all 13 of his games in 2022 as a rookie in the right game, and started all seven of his games in 2023 before battling season-ending ankle shock. Neal has been relegated to a backup situation to begin the 2024 season with the Giants signing Jermaine Eluemunor this offseason and then moving him from backup to assuming when Neal was not in position for training camp.
Neal ranked 84th of 85 qualifying tackles in the Pro Football Support Center’s grading system in 2023, giving up 20 quarterback pressures in 309 pass-blocking snaps. That came in a rookie year in which he ranked 86th out of 89 in future tackles, allowing 52 quarterback pressures on 534 pass-blocking snaps.
The Giants’ offense, a moribund team that scored its first touchdown in a home game started by quarterback Daniel Jones in 651 days (since January 1, 2023) of its 17-7 loss in Month 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals, could sink. to unused minimums in the future.
