Among the many decisions the New York Giants have to make this offseason, two of them involve a pair of former first-round picks.
With the Giants now three years removed from the 2022 NFL Draft, general manager Joe Schoen faces a decision on whether to exercise or decline the fifth-year option in the rookie contracts of edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and offensive tackle Evan Neal.
The decision on the fifth-year option must be submitted before the May 1 deadline this offseason, and it brings major financial factors. Per Over The Cap, “Upon being exercised, the fifth-year option is fully guaranteed, and any base salary in the player’s fourth year that was not fully guaranteed will become so.”
There are different tiers regarding the salary for fifth-year options based on playing time and Pro Bowl selections.
In predicting what each team will do with their respective fifth-year option decisions, Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus has New York declining the contract term for Neal, which is currently projected to be just over $16.6 million.
“The Giants figured they had secured two trench cornerstones when they selected Kayvon Thibodeaux and Neal within three picks, but that hasn’t materialized. Neal has failed to secure even a 50.0 PFF pass-blocking grade in any year or play 470 snaps in 2023 or 2024. Neal’s spot along New York’s offensive line was further obscured after the team added tackles James Hudson III and Stone Forsythe in free agency,” Locker wrote.
With Jermaine Eluemunor taking over the right tackle spot last season, Neal spent his third campaign in the NFL working as the backup to the veteran, who still has one more year left on his deal. Neal has dealt with injuries throughout his short career and when he’s on the field, he’s simply failed to produce.
Despite Neal being one of the first selections Schoen made after he was hired as the general manager of the Giants in 2022, it’s a situation in which both parties would benefit from parting ways after the 2025 season.
During the 2024 season, Neal allowed two sacks and 17 total pressures on 314 pass-blocking snaps while committing six penalties, per Pro Football Focus. He did grade out with a pretty strong run-blocking grade (80.8), however.
The Giants still have time to make a decision, but it would be a surprise if New York picked up the option for Neal.
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