Raiders cut former No. 7 pick Evan Neal from practice squad
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The gist
The Las Vegas Raiders cut offensive lineman Evan Neal from their practice squad on Monday.
Neal, a former top-10 pick, has not played in an NFL game since 2024.
Background
Evan Neal is an offensive lineman listed at 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds whom the New York Giants selected seventh overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, starting his career at right tackle. Injuries limited him to 29 of 51 possible regular-season games over his first three seasons, and after the Giants moved him to right guard he did not play a snap there last season. The Giants released him in August 2026, and the Raiders added the 26-year-old to their practice squad on Sept. 4. He never appeared in a game for Las Vegas before Monday's release.
How it unfolded
- 2022The Giants drafted Neal seventh overall and started him at right tackle.
- 2024Neal's most recent NFL snaps came in 2024; he did not play a snap at right guard last season.
- Aug 30, 2026The Giants released Neal, and the Raiders picked him up shortly after.
- Sep 4, 2026The Raiders added the 26-year-old Neal to their practice squad.
- Oct 19, 2026The Raiders cut Neal from their practice squad, signing tackles Amari Kight and Darian Kinnard and also cutting tight end Chris Myarick in corresponding moves.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- NBC Sports reporter Charean Williams noted Neal was not active for any Raiders games and has not played in a game since 2024.
- Analysts
- Donovan Gibbs of the New York Post wrote that the move ends the former top-10 pick's stint in Las Vegas, where he didn't appear in a game.
- Caution
- Roundtable Sports (Yahoo Sports) observed the Raiders are desperate for viable offensive linemen yet still cut Neal on Monday.
Still unverified
One social media post (source [5]) states the Raiders signed Neal to their practice squad, which conflicts with the release reported by multiple outlets.