Seahawks 2022 NFL draft: 3 players Seattle should definitely avoid

Offensive tackle Evan Neal, Alabama

Evan Neal might – might – be a great left tackle in the NFL. But there is also every reason to think that if he is taken high in the first round that he ends up being a huge bust. Huge being the operative word there because Neal is a massive human being.

Neal is 6’7″ and listed at 350 pounds. That last part is the important one. In high school, Neal weighed as much as 390 pounds which is far too heavy for an NFL lineman, especially a left tackle who needs to be quick as well as strong.

Sure, Neal has a lot of excellent attributes. He played at Alabama where he would have been extremely well-coached, his hand placement is near-perfect, he has great strength and he is an NFL-ready after playing against a bunch of SEC edge rushers who will likely turn into very good NFL players.

But there is some speculation that Neal has a slightly inconsistent work ethic and tends to rely on his great skill. This won’t work in the NFL as nearly every player is capable of greatness at times. Plus, it could mean that once Neal starts to get paid a lot of money he won’t be as focused on maintaining his weight.

If I were the Seahawks and going to pick an NFL lineman with a high first round choice in 2022, I would go with Charles Cross over Neal.