Neal was Another surprising faller at the Running Back position.
In a class overflowing with good Running Back talent a sub-par pre-draft process for so many players means the difference between day 2 capital and falling all the way to the 6th round. This was the case for Neal. A consistent performer for Kansas as their player to rush for 1000 yards 3 straight seasons. Unfortunately he was another player that was let down by less than stellar testing results.
But there is a case to be made that Neal fell too far and New Orleans found a fantastic value in him. The Saints boast a depth char of Alvin Kamara one of the best Running Backs New Orleans has ever had, the very out of favour Kendre Miller and the likes of Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Once Kamara moves on the lead back role in NO is wide open and Neal has proven he can handle a significant workload.
Neal is an intriguing 3rd round option in rookie drafts and late round dart throw in bestballs. Who could be an injury away from being a waiver wire priority in managed leagues.
Pay close attention to training camp reports for his progression in the Saints pecking order.
Author Scott Riley
Just one week out from the NFL Draft and Kansas rookie running back Devin Neal is seeing a slight drop in his ADP on Underdog.
Kansas rookie running back Devin Neal is falling on Underdog. Neal has fallen 5.1 spots since April 8th from RB-46 to RB-49.
Neal has fallen from round 13 to round 14. Part of this fall in ADP can be attributed to the fact that there are so many rookie running backs in this class that there are bound to be a few that fall. Part of what has caused the slide for Neal is that he ran a very pedestrian 4.58 40-yard dash which put him in the 52 percentile range.
Devin Neal also had a lackluster 53rd percentile speed score of 96.8 and a 125.8 83rd percentile burst score. Part of the appeal for Neal is that he is a touchdown machine. His final 2 seasons of college he had 17 total touchdowns in each respective season. Expect Neal’s ADP to remain in the same range unless he gets an outlandishly bullish spot such as the Denver Broncos or Kansas City Chiefs.
Author: Jeremiah Retzlaff (@coachretzlaff1)
In a deep running back class, Devin Neal ran the 4th slowest 40 time among RBs but displayed his explosiveness through the vertical and broad jump drills.
Devin Neal was wildly productive in college, rushing for over 3,600 yards in the past 3 seasons. Neal is from Kansas and chose to play for the Jayhawks in order to stay close to home, and his loyalty to the school and decision to not transfer to a bigger program should be commended. During combine interviews, Neal shared that he’s met formally with the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos.
Neal would’ve been a top running back option in the 2024 draft had he declared as a Junior, but he chose to stay for a Senior season and now finds himself buried behind some of the more prominent names in this class (Jeanty, Henderson, Kaleb Johnson, etc..). Nevertheless, Neal showed he has overall athleticism that can earn him NFL playing time, earning a 8.43 RAS that was bolstered by his good size (213 lbs) and great jump drill measurements (37.5″ vertical, 10’4″ broad jump.) Neal disappointed with his 4.58 40-yard dash relative to expectations.
Neal has a blend of game speed, power, and make-you-miss that will be enticing to teams and could land him a higher draft position than many expect. While his combine performance was mixed overall, his collegiate production warrant him to be more seriously considered as a top 5 running back in this class.
Author: Jonny Tooma (@FantasyPicasso)
Get to know former Kansas University Jayhawk running back Devin Neal.
Senior Bowl Profile: Devin Neal
Devin Neal (5’11 215) arrives at the Senior Bowl as one of the most decorated players in Kansas football history. In his senior season, Neal rushed for 1,266 yards and 16 touchdowns on 219 carries, becoming the Jayhawks’ all-time leader in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and 100-yard games. He also made history as the first Kansas player to record three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
A former three-star recruit and the consensus top player in Kansas (14th RB in 2021) Neal has been a standout since his freshman year, when rushed for 707 yards and 8 TDs on 158 carries. His running style is inspired by NFL RBs like T.J. Yeldon and Dalvin Cook and displays his outstanding vision, patience, and burst.
At the Senior Bowl, Neal will look to showcase his ability to compete against top-tier talent and demonstrate yet again why he’s one of the most reliable and productive running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft class.
Author: Justin Currie (@Chev90)
