In addition to his recently suggested Jerome Ford trade to address the running back room, ESPN's Bill Barnwell cooked up another trade for the Chargers. This mock trade has Joe Hortiz finally addressing some of the depth concerns along the offensive line. Giants OT/G Evan Neal is the target in this particular trade.
The terms? The Chargers would give the Giants a 2028 sixth-round pick for Neal and a 2028 seventh-round pick in return. Dipping into future capital is something we've seen the Chargers do in the Austin Deculus deal with Houston earlier this offseason.
In that trade, the Bolts gave the Texans a 2027 seventh-rounder. Because of their trade this season for Odafe Oweh and their Elijah Molden trade last offseason, Los Angeles is only projected to have five draft picks for 2026.
How Evan Neal could help the Chargers as they build depth along the offensive line
Neal fell out of the Giants' rotation and has not been active for a single game in 2025. The embattled former Giants' first-round pick struggled in the preseason and essentially lost his spot, even though he remains on New York's 53-man roster.
Barnwell wrote this about teams could perceive Neal as a relatively inexpensive option once the deadline approaches:
"Neal is owed only $666,667 over the remainder of the season, so he wouldn't be an expensive option for a team that needs a backup offensive lineman, most likely at tackle. We're not that far removed from Neal looking like a potential franchise tackle at Alabama, and there should be teams with optimistic scouting reports on him from his college days willing to take something close to a free look at the 25-year-old."
Last summer, the Chargers experimented by taking a shot on former first-rounder Alex Leatherwood in the offseason. They signed Bobby Hart this season after he had not played a regular-season game in three years. Clearly, the coaching staff believes that they can get the best out of players and at least attempt to rehabilitate their images if they can produce value for the team.
Neal specifically would help the Chargers' depth on the offensive line. Joe Alt and Jamaree Salyer seem likely to return this week, but Trey Pipkins' knee injury seems more severe at the moment. For the time being, Salyer would have to be ready to be the team's swing tackle and guard.
With Neal in the picture, Salyer could probably move back to guard full-time. That's really where this Chargers' staff has envisioned the Georgia product relative to the previous regime.
As Barnwell writes, Neal would get to "audition" for the Chargers before his impending 2026 free agency. Whichever team he gets traded to would get to see what he has left in the tank before next offseason. The Giants have clearly indicated that he isn't part of their future plans.
Chargers fans might want a better name at tackle as a starter, but those types of players generally don't get traded at the deadline. While the Chargers wait for Pipkins to get back, they can at least ensure that they have some relatively cheap depth for the rest of the season with this trade.