The New York Giants walked away from the first night of the 2023 NFL draft like the cat who ate the canary.
They chose a franchise-level pass rusher in Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux with the fifth overall selection and followed it up two picks later with Alabama’s massive offensive tackle, Evan Neal.
Buy Giants TicketsA year later, they are still trying to figure out what they have in both players. Thibodeaux has been taking heat for his lack of sacks and Neal has been getting his share of grief for allowing too many.
This week, Neal has the unenviable task of trying to contain 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, the defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year who has amassed 34 sacks over the past two seasons.
This season, through two games, Bosa is sackless but has to be licking his chops going up against the shaky Neal. Bosa could be ready to break out after missing all of training camp due to a contract dispute.
“It’s going to come,” said 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. “You saw the effort there (last Sunday) and you saw the push across the board with those guys. (Rams QB Matthew) Stafford was getting the ball out so fast. It’s only a matter of time, a matter of time.”
Neal knows he is up against it versus Bosa but has been in big sports before in his life. He believes he is ready.
“He was the defensive player of the year in the NFL for a reason,” Neal told reporters this week. “Just a really elusive pass rusher. Great technique, great bend, he has good strength, so it’s definitely going to be a good test for me and I’m up for the challenge, I’m ecstatic.
“Approaching it how I approach any other week. Just analyzing the film, watching the film, making sure that I am honed in on the game plan, especially being on the road. We have to take more mental reps now because haven’t been able to get a chance actually go out there and practice and hit guys and things like that. So, just taking the mental approach a lot more serious, just watching more tape, just trying my best to see any tendencies or anything like that.”
Neal has had issues with speed rushers such as Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons. No one needs to be reminded how Parsons has dominated the Giants the past two seasons.
“With guys like that, when you talk about pass rushers like Micah Parsons, Nick Bosa, I mean all those guys have a knack for getting after the quarterback,” Neal stated. “Both are tremendous players, high-motor guys. I feel like Bosa has a different style than Micah Parsons, they don’t move him around as much. He is a true hand in the dirt, outside linebacker, edge rusher. Tremendous player and I am excited for the challenge.”
We’ll see if he’s up to it.
