Falcons upgrade secondary with Keanu Neal

The Atlanta Falcons have selected safety Keanu Neal out of Florida with the 17th overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.

A highly physical player in the mold of Seattle Seahawks standout Kam Chancellor, Neal could be quick to emerge as a tone-setter in the secondary.

He'll presumably step into a starting role as a rookie, giving Atlanta yet another explosive defender to streamline the ongoing defensive rebuild.

Keanu Neal Bio

Position: S
School: Florida
College Experience: Junior
Height: 6-0
Weight: 211 lbs.

Strengths

• Punishing tackler at all levels of the field.
• Able to navigate his way through traffic and find the ball when working in the box.
• Also has the range, athleticism, and overall coverage ability to line up as a single-high safety.
• Makes quick reads to break on a play and get downhill.
• Solid frame for either safety position.
• Should be an immediate contributor on special teams coverage units.

Weaknesses

• Timed speed is only average for the position.
• Must eliminate instances in which he goes for the big hit and opts against wrapping up, which results in a missed opportunity to make a tackle.
• Can be inconsistent with his angles in chasing down a ball carrier.

Combine Results