New York Giants legend Phil Simms sees massive improvement from former first round pick entering make or break season

Many, including former Giants Super Bowl-winning quarterback Phil Simms, are noticing Neal appearing more reliable at guard during the beginning of training camp.

Phil Simms sees potential in Evan Neal at guard

On a recent episode of his podcast, Simms Complete, Simms revealed why Neal's transition to guard is perfect for his play style and physical profile.

"But in these one-on-ones, man, he's a big dude. And you're playing guard, you don't need to worry about someone's speed. They're not going up the field. And it fit him perfectly. Every rep he took. And I'm not exaggerating. Every rep he took, he won the battle. He won."

Listed at 6'7" 340lbs, Neal is enormous and is much heavier than a typical offensive lineman in the NFL. His struggles can be attributed to several things, but an inability to recover and keep up with faster rushers looked like an unfixable issue.

Simms's point perfectly sums up why this change for Neal could impact his career turnaround and the Giants' much-needed offensive line improvement in 2025.

Coming into training camp, it was a glaring question mark whether Neal would start or even make the roster. Greg Van Roten and John Runyan are the Giants' listed starters at guard, making it difficult for Neal to crack the lineup. But if Neal shines during preseason games, he could become a starter. Simms pointed this out as well as something to monitor during the Giants' first game against the Bills this Saturday.

"I'm excited for him. I hope he plays in Buffalo so we can just get a little peek. Maybe one, just a couple plays to see if it translates."

Last season, the Giants allowed the 12th most sacks in the NFL with 48 and the sixth worst pressure rate with 37.8%. During the 2024 season, Neal started seven games and saw action in nine.

Inconsistent quality of offensive line play has plagued the Giants for over a decade, especially from former first-rounders not living up to the hype. Hopefully, Neal can break through to help ignite a Giants turnaround in 2025.