Free agent safety Keanu Neal is attracting significant attention on the open market. Per veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson, the Cowboys, Jets, Lions, Vikings, Colts, and Panthers have all expressed interest in the Falcons’ defender (Twitter link).
After seeing his 2018-19 campaigns almost completely wiped out by injury, Neal managed to suit up for 15 games (14 starts) in 2020. He wasn’t brilliant, but he did pick up 100 tackles while grading out as Pro Football Focus’ 33rd-best safety out of 94 qualifiers. The fact that he was able to stay healthy and will only be 26 when the regular season starts is certainly driving the interest in his services.
After all, prior to suffering a torn ACL in the 2018 opener — he also sustained a torn Achilles during the third game of the 2019 season — Neal was establishing himself as one of the better young safeties in the game. He was selected by Atlanta with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2016 draft, and he racked up 106 tackles in 14 starts in his rookie campaign.
He built on that performance in 2017, starting all 16 games and piling up 116 tackles en route to a Pro Bowl nod. He moved with fluidity and demonstrated a nose for the football, as evidenced by his high tackle totals and the eight fumbles that he forced over his first two seasons in the league. Though he did not force any fumbles in 2020, nor was he as strong in coverage as he was before the injury trouble, there is reason to believe that he can return to his previous levels of performance.
Dallas, of course, has long been looking for a long-term solution at safety, while the other clubs Anderson mentions also have clear openings on the back end of their secondaries. The Jets, who recently hit Marcus Maye with the franchise tag, are an interesting fit, as GM Joe Douglas has been said to be opposed to paying big money to safeties. A Maye-Neal tandem would be a talented but expensive pairing, though trading Maye would certainly be a possibility.
One way or another, it does not sound like Neal will be returning to the Falcons, who are also preparing to bid adieu to safety Damontae Kazee and who have already parted ways with DB Ricardo Allen.
good photo choice
His injury history virtually guarantees the Lions will overpay for him.
Haha that’s a Bob Quinn move hopefully not the be regime
Lions aren’t doing that with you the new GM. Quinn might have but not the new guys. They walked away from Golladay instead of “overpaying”
Lions just signed RB Jamal Williams to a 2-year deal.
Lions also picked up Michael Brockers from the Rams in a trade.
Cowboys need to get this dude. Safety has been a black hole ever since Roy Williams’ 3rd season.
Douglas won’t sign him. It looks like the Jets have another Macagnan for a GM. He is just going to sit back and do nothing. The cheapskate Johnsons have Douglas handcuffed. They signed 4 free agents.They need more than that.
Let me.know when the Vikings sign him….even without K.Neal.
P.Peterson, Anthony Harris, Harrison Smith, and last year’s draft picks all the sudden the vikes secondary is a strength