Keanu Neal might have a shot at the Comeback Player of the Year award next season. The Falcons’ versatile and hard-hitting safety missed most of the 2018 campaign due to an ACL tear he suffered Week 1 against the Eagles.
It’s been a long road back for Neal, but he’s moving much better today than he was when he limped off the field last September. Here’s another look at Neal continuing his rehab at voluntary workouts.
Neal was Atlanta’s first-round pick in the 2016 draft. He was seen as a reach by many analysts at the time, but he’s since proven to be a legitimate first-round talent.
Over his first two seasons, Neal totaled 218 combined tackles, eight forced fumbles and 14 pass breakups. Neal was a Pro Bowler in 2017.
If he has one thing to work on, it’s his ball skills. Like most of the Falcons’ defensive backs, Neal has dropped too many interceptions the last couple of years. There’s not much else to nitpick over, though. Neal is a tenacious defender with a clutch instinct whose presence is completely irreplaceable for Atlanta’s defense.
