“Why would a lion concern himself with the opinion of a sheep?” Evan Neal once growled, his 6’7”, 340-pound frame casting a shadow over critics like a skyscraper over sidewalk pigeons. Fast forward to 2025, and Russell Wilson‘s Giants’ front office just roared louder: a $17M gamble that’s got Big Blue’s fanbase split between “trust the process” and “burn it all down.”

Let’s break it down: Neal, the Giants’ 2022 No. 7 pick, inked a fully guaranteed $24.5M rookie deal. But after 29 games, 27 starts, and a 2024 season where he allowed 2 sacks in 9 games? The Giants folded their hand. Declining his option saves them $17M in 2026—a move as cold as a New York winter, but savvy.

GM Joe Schoen’s message? ‘Come at the king, you best not miss.’ And Neal? He’s still on the roster for ‘25, earning $4M while rehabbing his rep. Neal’s journey’s been a rollercoaster—shaky starts, fan backlash (“flip burgers somewhere,” he clapped back), and a mid-‘24 switch to guard that sparked a Week 10 breakout (93.4 run-block grade vs. Carolina).

But in the NFL, potential’s a promise that expires faster than milk. With $44.34M in cap space, Schoen’s playing 4D chess. Neal’s response? “I’m built for it.” Cue the ‘Rocky’ training montage music.

Draft day heist: Meet the new kings of Gotham joining Wilson

Meanwhile, the Giants’ draft class? Pure poetry. Picture this: Penn State’s Abdul Carter, a 6’3”, 250-pound edge rusher with 12 sacks in ‘24, sliding into the No. 3 pick like he owns the place. Scouts gushed he’s ‘Micah Parsons meets Von Miller,’ and Schoen didn’t just draft him—he built a ‘Death Star’ D-line. Carter joins Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, forming a pass rush scarier than a subway rat stampede. PFF called it ‘elite.’ Mel Kiper grinned: “Difference-makers win Sundays.”

Then came the plot twist: Trading up to snag Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart at No. 25. Dart’s resume? 4,279 pass yards, 29 TDs, and a swagger that screams Eli Manning 2.0. Sure, Russell Wilson’s the 2025 starter (“Let’s ride,” he texted teammates), but Dart’s the future. Coach Brian Daboll is playing the long game, whispering “Believe.”

Day 2? Toledo DT Darius Alexander (9.17 RAS score, 58-yard pick-six) and ASU RB Cam Skattebo, a human wrecking ball who dropped 2,316 scrimmage yards in ‘24. Skattebo’s Heisman-finalist hustle? “Whole-ass one thing,” as Ron Swanson would say. Analysts crowned the class ‘A+.’ The Giants haven’t crushed a draft this hard since LT terrorized QBs in the ‘80s.

2025 New York Giants Draft Order:

• Round 1 – No. 3: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
• Round 1 – No. 25 (from Houston): Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi
• Round 3 – No. 65: Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
• Round 4 – No. 105: Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
• Round 5 – No. 154 (from Seattle): Marcus Mbow, OL, Purdue
• Round 7 – No. 219: Thomas Fidone II, TE, Nebraska
• Round 7 – No. 246 (from Buffalo): Korie Black, CB, Oklahoma State

Indeed, the Giants’ DNA is gritty, blue-collar, built on legends like LT and Eli’s ice veins. Now, they’re blending old-school brawn with new-school brains. Carter, who begged to wear LT’s retired No. 56, instead chose 55—a nod to legacy, not mimicry. Dart, rocking Manning’s Ole Miss pedigree, carries a playbook thicker than a Bronx accent. And Neal? He’s the wildcard, a lion either hunting redemption or eyeing the exit.

In a city that never sleeps, the Giants’ reboot is a midnight subway ride—unpredictable, electric, alive. Schoen’s $17M gamble isn’t just about cap space; it’s a bet on tomorrow, indeed. Because in New York, you don’t rebuild. You reload. And if the draft’s any indication? The Giants aren’t just back. They’re coming for crowns.