How it got hereNeal was not priced too high and was available because the Falcons decided to let him go after five seasons in Atlanta. The former first-round pick (17th overall pick) of the 2016 NFL Draft was chosen by Dan Quinn, who is now the Cowboys defensive coordinator. Neal, who played safety for Atlanta, has been plagued with injuries and missed 28 games between the 2018 and 2019 seasons. But when healthy, he is a player who can be productive, recording three seasons with more than 100 tackles. He is also a veteran who was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2017.
Whats Next: For all the success Neal has had as a safety, his return with Quinn will see him switch positions to linebacker. But it’s not exactly a big change, considering Neal served as nickel linebacker for the Falcons his entire career. While the Cowboys have some traditional linebackers in Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch and now Micah Parsons, it will be interesting to see where Neal fits into the mix. He’s likely to play in the middle of the field, especially on passing plays, and should be able to use his covering skills to help cover slot receivers and tight ends.
You did not know: Neal’s older brother is Clinton Hart, a safety who started Central Florida. Hart bounced around the NFL with the Eagles, Rams, and Chargers, along with several other professional teams in the United Football League from 2000 to 2010.
Player Quote: “Growing up, I played linebacker in middle and high school, then we switched defense and switched to safety. So I went to college as safety. But in my heart, I’ve been a linebacker for a while. Time passed, I moved deep. But I still understand what playing linebacker involves. ” – Keanu Neal
