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Evan Neal | Getty Images
New York Giants training camp in West Virginia will be a last chance for a group of highly-drafted players who have not met expectations to prove they belong. Let’s look at the chances guard Evan Neal, offensive lineman Josh Ezeudu, cornerback Deonte Banks, and wide receiver Jalin Hyatt will be part of the team in 2026.
Evan Neal
Many were surprised when Neal, who did not play a snap for the Giants last season, was given another chance with the team by new head coach John Harbaugh. Knowing Harbaugh’s love for massive people, though, it probably should not have been a shock that the veteran coach wanted to make his own judgment about the 6-foot-7, 340-pound No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Beset by injuries and poor performance, Neal has played in just 29 of a possible 68 regular-season games since becoming the second draft selection of Joe Schoen’s tenure as GM.
Can Neal take advantage of this chance? If spring practices are an indication, the odds will be heavily stacked against him in training camp. Jon Runyan and Sisi Mauigoa are the starting guards, and Daniel Faalele, Lucas Patrick, and Aaron Stinnie would all appear to be ahead of Neal as potential interior offensive line reserves.
First-year offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren liked the way Neal worked this spring.
“The thing I’d say that’s been cool with Evan is it doesn’t matter what group we put him in, all he wants to do is learn and work,” Bloomgren said. “And I think we’re seeing the best version of him in terms of how he’s preparing off the field before he even gets on the field.
“So, preparing for meetings the right way and starting to understand what it takes to be a successful offensive lineman at this level.”
The question that arises is how a 26-year-old entering his fifth season is just beginning to understand what it takes to be successful in the NFL.
Perhaps Neal’s best chance would be if the Giants were to decide to start Faalele at left guard and move on from Runyan, thus saving $9.25 million against the salary cap. That might give Neal a better chance at earning a backup guard job.
Chance Neal makes the team: 10%
Josh Ezeudu
If I were an oddsmaker, I would give Ezeudu, a 2022 third-round pick, better odds of making the season-opening roster than Neal.
That is partially contract-related. Neal received a minimum contract with no guaranteed money. Ezeudu received an $80,000 signing bonus and $330,000 in guaranteed salary. So, $410,000 guaranteed overall.
The other thing is that when you talk to Bloomgren, it is clear that he believes there is something worth trying to nurture there with the 27-year-old Ezeudu.
When drafted, Ezeudu was thought to be a guard at the NFL level. Since 2023, though, he has played almost exclusively at tackle. When the Giants brought him back for one more look this year, the thought was that perhaps they would finally give him a full-time opportunity at guard.
Harbaugh and his staff, though, like Brian Daboll and his staff, see Ezeudu as a tackle first with guard flexibility. He aligned at tackle all spring.
“Josh has done some very good things,” Bloomgren said at the end of mandatory minicamp. “And when he’s putting it together footwork-wise, hand placement-wise, you see why they drafted him in the first place.
“And you realize that this guy has a lot of potential, and that’s exciting.”
Ezeudu’s chance to make the team might come down to whether or not the Giants are comfortable trying to sneak sixth-round pick J.C. Davis through waivers and onto the practice squad.
Chance Ezeudu makes the team: 30%
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Deonte Banks
After a promising start to his Giants career while playing in Wink Martindale’s aggressive scheme in 2023, the former first-round pick had a rough time the past two seasons. His performance dipped in Shane Bowen’s less aggressive scheme. His immaturity also surfaced, with a lack of on-field effort and accountability being an issue. Banks spent 2025 making himself unavailable to the media. For most of last season, he was used at cornerback only when injuries forced the Giants to play him.
His athleticism allowed him to become a dynamic kickoff returner. In a role he had never had before, Banks averaged an impressive 32.7 yards with one touchdown on 19 kickoff returns.
Banks is getting a fresh start under Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson in a defense that promises to allow cornerbacks to play more aggressively. Splitting first-team reps with Greg Newsome, Banks played well during spring practices.
New defensive backs coach Addison Lynch says coaches have tried to show Banks that inconsistent technique was hurting him.
“We make these tapes called ‘get better tapes,’” Lynch said. “We tried to just show him his consistency was his deal. He wasn’t consistent getting lined up fast, wasn’t consistent with his feet. So, he’s improved his consistency, now his play has improved, now his confidence is up, and he can keep this rolling into the season.
“… he’s being consistent in his technique. That’s all we really needed from him to prove that he can do. Now he’s showing up day in and day out, he’s being a pro, he’s putting in extra work, so he’s motivated to do the right things, and I think he’s headed in the right direction.”
Banks might not win a starting job from Newsome or second-round pick Colton Hood, but he figures to slot ahead of players like Korie Black, Art Green, Nic Jones, and Jarrick Bernard-Converse on the depth chart.
Chance Banks makes the team: 100%
Jalin Hyatt
Hyatt was selected by the Giants in Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft after a breakout season at Tennessee in which he caught 67 passes for 1,267 yards and won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver. He has never been able to use his speed to approach that kind of production with the Giants.
In three seasons, he has 36 receptions, only 13 of which have come during the past two seasons. After scoring 15 touchdowns in his final season at Tennessee, he has yet to score one in the NFL.
The volume of experienced wide receivers the Giants have added this offseason is not necessarily a referendum on Hyatt. It does, though, tell you the Giants are not expecting Hyatt to be a factor in 2026.
Hyatt had a quiet spring. He made a couple of nice plays in one practice open to the media, but otherwise rarely saw the ball head in his direction when the media was in attendance.
The Giants have 14 wide receivers on their 90-man roster. Six or seven will make the 53-man roster to begin the season. If you ranked those receivers 1-14 on a depth chart, I think Hyatt would be No. 13, with only Xavier Gipson below him.
Hyatt does not contribute to coverage teams. Players like Dalen Cambre, Ryan Miller, and Beaux Collins do. That might give those players a chance to sneak onto the roster or land on the practice squad.
Hyatt’s time with the Giants appears to be nearing an end.
Chance Hyatt makes the team: 5%
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