The Falcons’ secondary has been decimated by injuries over the past few years, which helped open the door for the team’s 2017 fourth-round pick, Damontae Kazee, to earn more playing time.
In three seasons, Kazee has spent time at both the safety and corner positions, recording 171 tackles, 10 interceptions and 13 passes defended. With some uncertainty over Keanu Neal‘s long-term status after suffering back-to-back season-ending injuries and Ricardo Allen‘s contract up in 2021, it seems like it’s only a matter of time before he earns a starting role on Atlanta’s defense.
In Bleacher Report’s feature highlighting each team’s best kept secret, the versatile backup safety was chosen for the Falcons. Gary Davenport wrote the following about Kazee below:
After barely playing as a rookie, Kazee logged 991 snaps for the Falcons in 2018. Not only did Kazee play, but he shined—he recorded 82 tackles, tied for the NFL lead with seven interceptions and allowed just 53.3 percent of the passes thrown in his direction to be completed.
Kazee’s playing time dropped a bit last season—but not by that much—and in 803 snaps at both safety and slot cornerback, Kazee tallied 74 tackles, picked off three more passes and surrendered a passer rating of just 66.3.
Kazee has everything a team could want in a 21st-century safety—he can play all over the formation, isn’t shy about chipping in against the run, has a nose for the big play and can hold his own in coverage.
After moving him back and forth between nickel corner and both safety spots, Falcons head coach Dan Quinn said the team intends to keep Kazee at safety going forward.
It may not be in 2020. but Kazee seems destined for a bigger role with the team in the not-so-distant future.
