The Baltimore Ravens’ offensive line has been a tale of highs and lows this season. On one hand, rookie offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten earned All-Rookie honors from The 33rd Team, stabilizing the right side of the line with strong play down the stretch.
Meanwhile, the interior line has been anything but stable, and with left tackle Ronnie Stanley set to hit free agency, the uncertainty surrounding the line is growing.
Kristopher Knox of B/R suggested the Ravens could trade for New York Giants offensive tackle Evan Neal to fill a potential void at tackle if Stanley leaves. Knox noted, “The Baltimore Ravens are projected to have just $11.8 million in cap space and could lose Ronnie Stanley in free agency. Pairing a rookie tackle with Neal could be a strategy the Ravens consider.”
While trading for Neal as a tackle is a solid suggestion, there’s an even better approach: acquire Neal and transition him to guard.
Neal, the seventh overall pick in the 2022 draft, has struggled to live up to expectations in New York. Injuries and inconsistent play have turned him from a presumed cornerstone into a potential trade chip. However, Neal’s raw talent—highlighted by his size, athleticism, and run-blocking ability—remains undeniable. The Ravens, known for their player development and ability to find value in reclamation projects, could provide the perfect environment for Neal to thrive in a new role.
Moving Neal to guard would allow the Ravens to address their interior line issues while maintaining their strength at tackle with Rosengarten and, ideally, a re-signed Stanley. It’s a move that mirrors the Philadelphia Eagles’ successful reinvention of Mekhi Becton, who transitioned from tackle to guard and developed into a Pro Bowl-caliber player.
With the Ravens' coaching expertise, Neal’s untapped potential could transform him from a struggling talent into a key asset for Baltimore’s offensive line.
The Ravens could take a page out of the Eagles' playbook with Giants OT Evan Neal
The Ravens wouldn’t be the first team to turn a struggling tackle into a dominant interior lineman. The Eagles did it masterfully with Becton, shifting him from tackle to guard after acquiring him from the New York Jets.
The move revitalized Becton’s career, and he became a Pro Bowl-caliber starter on a unit that powered one of the league’s most potent rushing attacks. Neal’s physical tools—6-foot-7, 350 pounds, with impressive athleticism—make him a natural candidate for a similar role in Baltimore.
Baltimore’s offensive identity under offensive coordinator Todd Monken relies on a versatile line. Neal’s strengths as a run blocker could be maximized alongside center Tyler Linderbaum and, hopefully, Stanley. Pairing Neal with Rosengarten on the right side would give the Ravens a physically imposing duo capable of paving the way for Derrick Henry and Justice Hill while protecting Lamar Jackson.
Given the Ravens’ tight cap situation, splurging on a top-tier interior lineman in free agency seems unlikely. Evan Neal, still on his rookie contract, presents an affordable, low-risk option with significant upside. With the Giants almost certain to decline his fifth-year option, a trade for Neal would likely cost just a mid-round pick—an absolute bargain if Baltimore can tap into his potential.
The Ravens have built their success on smart, calculated risks.
Trading for Evan Neal and transitioning him to guard would be another example of that approach. While Neal’s time in New York has been disappointing, Baltimore’s system and culture could be the perfect environment for a career revival.
If the Ravens want to keep their offense humming while shoring up their interior line, Neal might just be the missing piece—one man’s trash could be another man’s treasure, and Baltimore has a knack for finding gold where others see rust.