The Saints just stole RB Devin Neal at 6.184 — 220-pounder with nifty feet and a versatile game
— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) April 26, 2025
He put that on display again in an exclusive interview with After Further Review host Matt Moscona on 104.5 ESPN Radio Baton Rouge.
In the one-on-one conversation, Neal recounted the draft process, discussed his connections with the Saints leading up to the selection process and dug into his hopes after being selected by New Orleans. As it turns out, the Saints were lucky to land Neal because he got a lot of attention throughout the pre-draft proceedings.
“It was unique. I talked to the majority of teams in the NFL,” Neal told Moscona. “I did about 27, 28 Zooms. I talked to every team with the Senior Bowl and the Combine. So it was kind of up in the air what team was going to draft me or what team was most interested.”
With all the contact that Neal had with teams around the league, one specific connection sticks out: Saints running back and associate head coach Joel Thomas.
“Coach Thomas was actually my offensive coordinator for the Senior Bowl,” said Neal. “But that’s when he was with the Giants. Obviously now he’s with the Saints as the running backs coach. So that was really the main point of contact.”
don’t see RBs engage in a blitz pick up for this long very often. devin neal one of the better pass pro backs i’ve watched so far. pic.twitter.com/LwGccXvcuL
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) March 17, 2025
Neal said that he spoke with Thomas often and had contact with other coaching staff members as well, leading him to feel that he spoke with the Saints the most out of any other team in the league.
Thomas and Neal sound like they have already continued their working relationship since he was drafted just over a week ago.
“I talked to Coach T three or four times,” the running back said. “We’ve been talking about install stuff and what it’s going to take for me to just get ready for this next part of my life and this next chapter in the NFL.”
The good news for Neal is that he absolutely dominated his last chapter at Kansas. He finished his time as a Jayhawk holding all-time records in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and 100+ rushing yard games.
Devin Neal vs. Colorado was unstoppable on film:
➖ 37 Carries
➖ 207 Rush Yards (5.6 YPC)
➖ 80 Receiving Yards
➖ 3 TDs
➖ 8 Missed Tackles Forced
➖ 15 First DownsEnjoy some All-22 highlights below… pic.twitter.com/X63JPxHxLU
— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) February 16, 2025
What he does at the next level will largely depend on the role that he earns in head coach Kellen Moore’s offense. Neal is very aware that Moore offers a unique opportunity with the coach’s history of outstanding rushing attacks.
“I know he loves to run the football,” Neal said. “I’m just super excited to get down there. I think he’s an innovative mind. I think he’s really creative in his run game and in his passing game as well. So I’m just really excited to see what he’s able to do with the Saints this next year and hopefully use me in the best way.”
Moore, of course, helped Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley run for more than 2,000 rushing yards last year. While he may not replicate that same level of success in the overall run game in his first year as the Saints’ head coach and play caller, there are high expectations of what Moore could get out of star back Alvin Kamara and the running back room.
Neal said that he models his game after Kamara and Houston Texans back Joe Mixon. Both of which possess high-end, dynamic rushing ability with the talent to contribute to the passing game. All of which are elements that Neal likes to emphasize in his play style as well. That should give Moore a pretty enticing rotation of weapons in his New Orleans backfield.
It was a surprise to see Neal not come off of the board until the sixth round of this year’s draft. For him, the joy of being selected at all was the same whether on day two or three. But it’s clear that Neal will use the draft as a bit of a motivating factor as he arrives in New Orleans with rookie minicamp kicking off later this week.
“For me, I think it’s another chip on my shoulder,” Neal said. “And ultimately I’m just ready to go out there and perform and earn my spot on the team.”
