2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Devin Neal

Strengths:

• Shake: He uses subtle, but sudden jukes and path adjustments to attack pursuit angles and create space. Defenders rarely hit him clean, and his short strides give him excellent change of direction.
• Tempo: Neal is a patient runner with a natural feel for timing up blocks. He runs with a natural tempo to set up blocks and defenders before exploding through the lane with a sudden burst.
• Fast Enough: Neal has sufficient speed to find and turn the corner, which he pairs with an excellent burst to cover short areas quickly.
• Passing Downs: He is a capable pass catcher with impressive ball skills, highlighted on errant RPO throws. In pass protection, he scans, squares up, and gets low to deliver a punch and absorb.

Weaknesses:

• Spacing: Neal played in an RPO and misdirection-heavy offense with a very mobile QB at the helm. This all combined to generate ample space for Neal to work with.
• Scheme Versatility: Kansas ran many horizontal run concepts without much action between the tackles. It is questionable how scheme-versatile Neal will be in the NFL.
• Physicality: Neal is better at narrowly avoiding tackles than breaking them. He rarely lowers his pads to deliver blows, which could limit his ability to run between the tackles. His Leg drive at contact leaves me wanting more.
• Breakaway Speed: He hits his top speed quickly, but lacks another gear beyond his initial burst. His patient vision can be a blessing and a curse on inside runs.

Final Thoughts and Bears Fit for RJ Harvey:

Devin Neal represents the middle class of runningbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft class. He offers the upside of a good starter in the right situation and scheme and the floor of a capable backup. However, he lacks any notable special teams or return experience, which could impact his ability to stay on rosters in the floor scenario.

Overall, Neal is a patient and shifty runner with a natural feel for timing blocks and creating space. His quick burst and subtle jukes make him difficult to tackle cleanly, and he has adequate speed to turn the corner. As a pass catcher, he shows reliable ball skills and can effectively handle pass protection.

However, concerns exist about his ability to adapt to a more traditional NFL offense. He thrived in a college system that emphasized RPOs and misdirection. Additionally, his lack of physicality may hinder his effectiveness inside.

For the Bears, I have a hard time seeing the fit unless Neal falls down draft boards, mainly because his play style and skill set are redundant to D'Andre Swift's. He would likely only be an option if the Bears have already missed out on multiple other backs in the class and feel the need to add Swift's eventual replacement. Despite being notably taller than Swift, they physically match in weight, short-area burst, and preference to work outside the tackles.

I like what Neal offers, but his lack of special teams experience will impact his value as a depth piece. Ultimately, other teams should see more value in picking Neal before it makes sense for the Bears, mainly teams that focus on a wide zone run scheme. However, his vast RPO experience could be fun to pair with Caleb Williams.

Pro Comp: D'Andre Swift