Raiders agree to sign Giants draft bust

The Giants drafted Neal with the No. 7 overall pick in 2022. The 6’7″ offensive lineman was a highly touted recruit coming out of Alabama, whom the team believed to be a potential core piece of their O-line of the future.

Neal quickly fell out of favor with Giants fans. His early seasons were more memorable for his embarrassing lowlights than for his effective play on the field.

Neal’s approval rating hit rock bottom when he ripped Giants fans for booing during a game in which quarterback Daniel Jones got sacked 11 times. It did not help that Neal’s struggles persisted even after he publicly called out the Giants’ fan base.

The Giants unsurprisingly chose not to pick up Neal’s fifth-year option for the 2026 season. New York tried to move him from tackle to guard last season, but veteran Greg Van Roten outperformed Neal for the starting job. Neal did not play a single game in 2025, partly due to a hamstring injury that ended his campaign early.

The Raiders are hoping a fresh start could be exactly what Neal needs to finally tap into his potential. At 25 years old, the man still has time.