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Joe Burrow’s Career Could Hinge on Bengals Pulling Off Risky Evan Neal Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 5:09 PM ET

As much as we love to think that quarterbacks will play and dominate forever, it isn’t unrealistic to argue that perennial MVP contender Joe Burrow is slowly running out of time to win a Super Bowl with the Cincinnati Bengals.

As incredible a player as Burrow is, he’s also three months away from his 29th birthday. The Bengals haven’t reached the postseason since losing the 2022 AFC Championship Game, and they wasted Burrow’s latest stellar campaign; the 2020 No. 1 pick completed 70.6% of his passes for 4,918 yards, 43 touchdowns, and nine interceptions en route to winning Comeback Player of the Year.

Alas, the Bengals finished 9-8 and out of the playoffs. Oddsmakers don’t love the Bengals this year, either, with the FanDuel Sportsbook giving Cincinnati +1900 odds (bet $100 for a $2,000 payout) to win Super Bowl LX.

What can the Bengals do to best give Burrow a chance at hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February? The answer might be as simple as trading for New York Giants backup offensive lineman Evan Neal.

The Bengals Must Consider Pursuing an Evan Neal Trade

Don’t let the Giants’ continued struggles or their decision to decline Neal’s fifth-year option fool you into thinking that he’s a JaMarcus Russell-level bust. The 6-foot-7, 350-pound Neal has developed into a dominant run blocker, with Pro Football Focus giving him an 80.8 run block grade last year. Only eight tackles leaguewide fared higher, and Neal’s 61.2 overall grade placed him 73rd of 140.

Conversely, Pro Football Focus ranked four-time Pro Bowl Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. 92nd out of 140 tackles last season. Brown especially struggled in the run game, and his 49.7 run block grade was the league’s 19th-worst score, according to PFF.

Amarius Mims fared slightly better as a run blocker, though that isn’t saying much. Mims’ 52.6 run block grade also couldn’t save him from a 57.8 overall grade, placing him 96th among tackles leaguewide.

All of Evan Neal's snaps from the #Giants preseason win over the #Patriots pic.twitter.com/q8BBWuR74Z
— Nick Falato (@nickfalato) August 22, 2025

Acquiring Neal at this juncture is extremely risky, especially considering the Bengals already have two established tackles. Cincinnati selected Mims in the first round last year, and although the analytics didn’t think highly of Brown in 2024, there is no current reason to believe Cincinnati would bench or part ways with him.

However, a leg injury cost Brown six games last year, and the Bengals got an up-close look at life without him. That alone should give the Bengals reason to consider adding Neal, even if they make him a highly-paid backup rental. Neal is projected to begin the 2025 season as a backup on the Giants’ depth chart, making him a realistic trade target for the Bengals.

Either way, the Bengals should do whatever it takes to win a Super Bowl with Burrow at quarterback, even if it means making an unconventional offensive line move.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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