Former Alabama offensive lineman makes massive decision on status for NFL Combine

Former Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal is in contention to be the top overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. The NFL Combine is set to begin this week, and Neal just made a massive decision regarding his status for the event. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Neal will not work out at the NFL Combine, instead waiting until his Pro Day in March.

“#Bama OL Evan Neal, a potential top overall pick for the NFL Draft, will wait until his Pro Day on March 30 to work out, source says,” Rapoport tweeted. “He’ll participate in interviews at the NFL Scouting Combine, but after a long season, he’ll take a few extra weeks to prepare.”

There are a number of contenders for the top pick in the draft, but Neal appears to be one of the favorites. The Jacksonville Jaguars hold the top overall pick, so getting some protection for star quarterback Trevor Lawrence would make a ton of sense. Neal has also been mocked to the Houston Texans at third overall frequently throughout the many mock drafts put out since the end of the season.

Neal went first overall in ESPN’s NFL mock draft 2.0

In ESPN NFL Draft expert Todd McShay’s mock draft 2.0, Neal was indeed selected with the top pick by the Jaguars. Aidan Hutchinson followed at the second pick, while Kyle Hamilton and Ikem Ekwonu went third and fourth, respectively.

For McShay, taking Neal with the top pick in the NFL Draft was a no-brainer.

“I went with Evan Neal going to Jacksonville with the No. 1 spot and look, you look at last year, Jacksonville only had 30 sacks, Aidan Hutchinson is certainly in play,” McShay started. “But I kind of looked at it with Doug Pederson coming in, he won a Super Bowl with an elite offensive line in Philadelphia. Evan Neal, 360 pounds, with his movement skills, his length, his dominance in the run game. He gave up just one sack this last year. He’s improved so much in that regard.

“He can play left tackle, played right tackle in 2020, played guard in 2019. There’s positional versatility if they need it and certainly, they need help on the offensive side. They need to protect their investment of Trevor Lawrence.

Fellow ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper believes that the first pick in the draft will be “fascinating,” and that Trevor Lawrence is going to need help to compete in the AFC. Neal just might be the help that the Jaguars are looking for at the top of their NFL Draft board.

“I think it’s going to be fascinating at the top,” Kiper responded. “They can’t trade out of the No. 1 spot. They’re in the AFC, so even if Lawrence develops into this great quarterback we think he’ll be, you still have to be able to get after Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, whoever it may be. If Jacksonville goes Neal or Ekwonu, Detroit can take Hutchinson at No. 2.”