The Las Vegas Raiders brought in a massive group of 16 players for a workout on Thursday, and a couple of names on that list are absolutely wild. We’re talking about offensive lineman Evan Neal and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, two guys who not long ago were huge deals in the league.
Evan Neal: From Top-10 Pick to Tryout Line
Look, let’s talk about Evan Neal for a second. This isn’t merely *any* guy getting a workout. We’re talking about a player the Giants snagged seventh overall in the 2022 draft! Seventh! That’s “future Pro Bowl anchor” kind of pick, you know? He started his career at right tackle, and then the Giants decided to shuffle him over to right guard. And what happened? The dude didn’t play a single snap at that new position last season (2025). From a top-10 pick to not seeing the field and getting cut by New York, he hasn’t even stepped on a field since 2024. He finished his Giants run with 29 games played, 27 of them starts, but that’s a seriously steep drop for a player picked so high. The Raiders are clearly looking for a massive steal here.
MVS Searching For A Home After Whirlwind 2025
And then you’ve got Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who’s a known commodity in this league. The Cowboys just released him on Sunday, so he’s fresh on the market. But it’s been a bit of a whirlwind for him recently, too. In 2025 alone, he played five games for San Francisco, picking up four catches for 40 yards, and another five games with Pittsburgh, where he hauled in ten receptions for 80 yards and punched in a score. This is a guy who was a fifth-round pick back in 2018, and his career totals aren’t shabby at all: 219 catches for 3,686 yards and 21 touchdowns. He’s got speed, he’s got experience, and he can make plays. So for him to be on a tryout, it absolutely shows you how quickly things can change in the NFL. The Raiders must see serious potential to bring in a veteran like him this early in the season.
The Raiders Are Hunting For Talent
But wait, there’s more! The Raiders didn’t stop with those two. This was a *full-on audition* day with 16 players hoping to impress. We’re talking about offensive guard Evan Beerntsen, wide receiver Ronnie Bell, defensive tackle David Blay, defensive back Stephen Hall, defensive back Tre Hawkins, center Trey Hill, offensive tackle Christian Jones, tight end Josh Kattus, linebacker Dasan McCullough, defensive back Latrell McCutchin, defensive end David Ojabo, and linebacker Azeez Ojulari. That’s a long list of guys, all fighting tooth and nail for a shot. When an NFL team rolls out the red carpet for this many players, especially in early September during the regular season, it screams one thing: they’re looking to upgrade everywhere. They need depth and competition, and they’re not afraid to shake things up to find crucial pieces.
So, what’s the real deal here? For these 16 players, it’s crunch time. This isn’t merely a practice session; it’s a chance to keep their NFL dreams alive, to earn a spot, to prove all the doubters wrong. For the Raiders, it’s about finding hidden gems, about shoring up weaknesses, and about putting the best possible product on the field as the regular season unfolds. Every snap, every route, every block in that workout could mean the difference between a roster spot and an uncertain future. Keep an eye on any potential signings from this group, because the Raiders are clearly serious about making some moves.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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