New Orleans Saints select Devin Neal in 6th round of 2025 NFL Draft

In one of the deepest running back classes of all-time, the most versatile guy may have just been taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. Devin Neal was selected by the New Orleans Saints with the No. 184 overall pick in the sixth round. Neal comes out of Kansas, spending four years with the Jayhawks. Now, he makes his way into the league.

Neal produced three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons at Kansas. His true freshman campaign was not too bad either, surpassing 700 yards. In total, Neal ran for 4,343 yards and 49 touchdowns during his college playing days.

Many expect him to be a great receiver coming out of the backfield, too. Kansas was not afraid to use Neal in the passing game. He finished with 77 receptions for 711 yards and four touchdowns as a receiver.

Neal played high school football at Lawrence (KS), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 310 overall recruit in the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

There is some program history with Neal hearing his name called. Kansas had two players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft and now, Neal. It’s the first time KU has had back-to-back years of players being picked in NFL Drafts since 2004 and 2005. If somebody can find a way to get drafted next year, the last three-year streak came in the ’90s.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Devin Neal

A scouting report on Neal was produced by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein ahead of the draft. He gave the Kansas running back a prospect score of 5.98, meaning he projects as an “average backup or special teamer.” Zierlein did not provide a direct comparison for Neal but did say he would be drafted in either the fifth or sixth round.

“Workload runner with NFL size and four years of steady production to help elevate the program,” Zierlein said. “Neal runs with a nice blend of patience and decisiveness to choose the right lanes and maximize each carry. He lacks top-end burst and speed, which will shrink the field for him, but he’s a fall-forward runner with good contact balance and a nose for short-yardage conversions.

“He has good instincts and soft hands in space and can help as a leak-out or swing-pass option. His blue-collar approach isn’t exciting but it is effective and Neal has the ability to develop into a backup three-down back.”