It is happening, and the Giants hope this time around, massive Evan Neal can finally fulfill some of those mammoth expectations and thrive in a new position on the offensive line. 

Neal this spring will attempt to resuscitate his failing NFL career with a move to guard. And it makes sense that, if he adapts and shows he can handle the mental and physical adjustments inherent with getting kicked to the interior of the line, a starting spot at right guard could be his for the taking. 

The Giants would love to see that scenario unfold. They want to see Neal prove that he is one of the five best offensive linemen on the roster and is worthy of a starting role. He has already proven that he cannot handle the load at right tackle, and after three seasons trying and failing to reap the rewards from taking him so high in the 2022 NFL Draft — he was the No. 7 pick — there is no turning back. Neal previously was resistant to the notion that he needed to change positions, but he was a backup in 2024 until injuries got him back onto the field. This seemingly is his last shot, and he knows it. 

There are no assurances this will work. Neal as a true freshman at Alabama in 2019 started all 13 games at right guard. That is the last time he was a guard, as he switched to right tackle in 2020 and to left tackle in 2021. With the Giants, with Andrew Thomas anchored at left tackle, the plan was for Neal to hunker down his 6-foot-7, 340-pound body at right tackle and the Giants would have bookends for a decade.