The Raiders made a move this week that is a stark reminder of how brutal the NFL grind can be, cutting offensive lineman Evan Neal from their practice squad on Monday. This isn’t just another practice squad shuffle. We’re talking about a player who was the seventh overall pick in the 2022 draft, and he hasn’t even played a snap in a game since 2024. That’s a fall from grace you rarely see.
The Brutal Reality for a Former Top-10 Pick
Neal’s journey with the Raiders was short-lived and without a single snap in a game. After the Giants released him during preseason, the Raiders quickly picked him up. But he never suited up for them. His time with the Giants, the team that drafted him with such high hopes, wasn’t much smoother. He started his career at right tackle, then got moved to right guard, where he didn’t play a single snap last season. He ended his Giants tenure with 29 games played, 27 of those as a starter. For a guy picked so high, to be off a practice squad just a few years later and out of game action for two years? Man, that’s tough to watch.
Raiders Bring In New Faces, Including a Former Hawk
In addition to Neal, the Raiders also cut tight end Chris Myarick from their practice squad. Myarick saw a bit more action than Neal, playing in two games this season for the Raiders, contributing eight snaps on offense and three on special teams. To fill those open practice squad spots, the Raiders signed offensive tackles Amari Kight and Darian Kinnard. Kight, who is 25, has a bit of a connection to the Emerald City. He played for Raiders coach Klint Kubiak last season when Kubiak was the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator. Kight even appeared in four games for Seattle in 2025 before the Seahawks waived him during preseason with an undisclosed injury. Kinnard, a journeyman, entered the league as a fifth-round pick for the Chiefs in 2022 and spent last season with the Packers.
These are the kinds of moves that fly under the radar for most fans, but they’re massive for the players involved. For Neal, it’s gotta be a punch to the gut. The Raiders are clearly looking for depth and maybe a fresh look on their offensive line as the season rolls on. We’ll have to see if Kight and Kinnard can stick around and make an impact for them, especially Kight with his recent Seahawks history. It’s a tough league, folks.
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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