Tag: Keanu Neal

PFF predicts Falcons will lose Keanu Neal, Alex Mack in free agency

The NFL’s 2021 free agency period kicks off in just under a month but the Falcons won’t have the cap room to make any major moves.

The NFL’s 2021 free agency period kicks off in just under a month, but the Falcons won’t have the cap room to make any major moves. Atlanta is still roughly $20 million over this year’s projected cap number, which will make re-signing the team’s own free agents a challenge.

Strong safety Keanu Neal and center Alex Mack are likely to hit the open market unless the Falcons designate one of them for the franchise tag. If the team hopes to re-sign either player, though, some roster tweaking and potential contract restructuring would first have to take place.

Both players could end up signing elsewhere, which is what Pro Football Focus predicts in its free agency preview feature. Neal is listed as the No. 72 free agent and PFF has him signing with the Houston Texans.

“Neal is set to hit free agency coming off his $6.466 million fifth-year option in 2020, and he’s fortunate Atlanta stuck by it. He was able to play a full season and provide quality snaps down in the box as well as in the slot, and a versatile safety who lurks near the line of scrimmage could be just what a few teams need this offseason.

Prediction: Texans sign Neal for two years, $10 million ($5M APY): $6 million total guaranteed, $3.5 million fully guaranteed at signing.”

Mack is the No. 81 rated free agent on the list and PFF predicts he will land in Los Angeles blocking for Matthew Stafford and Cam Akers.

“2021 would be Mack’s age 36 season, and Father Time appears to be catching up to the longtime great center. With Atlanta set to bring in a new general manager and head coach as the team turns toward the future, Mack may have to move on.

Prediction: Rams sign Mack for one year, $6 million fully guaranteed at signing.”

PFF also predicts Atlanta will sign free-agent defensive lineman Brent Urban to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million.

“A plus run defender who has been remarkably consistent as a below average pass-rusher along the defensive line, Brent Urban has a role as an early-down rotational body for some team in the NFL. He has just 55 total pressures from over 800 pass-rushing snaps over his career.

Contract Analysis: Urban signed a veteran minimum contract to stay with the Chicago Bears in 2020 after they signed him following a release from the Tennessee Titans during the 2019 season. While he may be a bit one-dimensional, he was excellent against the run in 2020, and a reunion with former Titans DC Dean Pees in Atlanta could help provide a solid interior presence for a team that needs it.”

Urban wouldn’t fix Atlanta’s pass rush, but he could provide some depth on the interior of the defensive line. The team still desperately needs an edge rusher and could add one early in the upcoming NFL draft.

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Scouting the most important defensive players available in NFL free agency this year

From Shaq Barrett to Justin Simmons, everything you need to know about the upcoming defensive free agents.

The NFL’s annual game of musical chair is almost upon us as talented free agents will hit the open market in early March. After breaking down the available offensive free agent pool, it’s time to shift attentions to defense.

There isn’t quite as much top end talent as there is on the offensive side of the ball, but there are plenty of starters for teams of every kind as they try to plug in holes on their defenses.

From future Hall of Famers, to Super Bowl champions, to young, talented players just hitting their second contracts, here’s an overview of the defensive free agent market.

Examining the Falcons’ biggest positional needs for 2021

Since the Atlanta Falcons didn’t qualify for the NFL’s expanded postseason, it gave the team an early start on what’s sure to be a busy offseason.

Since the Atlanta Falcons didn’t qualify for the NFL’s expanded postseason, it gave the team an early start on what’s sure to be a busy offseason. The Falcons have plenty of needs to fill, not including the team’s general manager and head-coaching vacancies.

Here are Atlanta’s biggest positional needs heading into the 2021 offseason.

Which pending Falcons free agents will return in 2021?

With the Atlanta Falcons already out of playoff contention, their Week 17 bout against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will finally end a tumultuous 2020 season.

With the Atlanta Falcons already out of playoff contention, their Week 17 bout against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will finally end a tumultuous 2020 season. Sunday’s game could also be the final time we see a number of players wearing a Falcons uniform.

Whether their contracts are coming to an end or they’re released as a way to clear cap space, Atlanta will have no choice but to make some tough decisions when it comes to signing players this offseason.

Notable players set to become free agents

• K Younghoe Koo
• C Alex Mack
• S Keanu Neal
• CB Darqueze Dennard
• RB Todd Gurley
• RB Brian Hill
• DE Steven Means
• DL Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
• TE Luke Stocker
• OL Matt Gono

Given the list of notable players whose contracts are set to expire, there aren’t many the Falcons can realistically bring back. Retaining kicker Younghoe Koo and safety Keanu Neal will likely be the team’s highest priorities.

However, given the lack of cap space, even after cuts, it may be unlikely to see both of them return. If the Falcons had to choose one, you would have to believe the team would side with Koo given his success in 2020.

Atlanta could still potentially bring back rotational pieces like DT Jacob Tuioti-Mariner and DE Steven Means to fill out the roster, which currently sits at 31 players for 2021.

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Notable players who may be cut to clear cap space

With the Falcons currently in the negative by $24 million, moves will have to be made to get them out of the red. Not only will Atlanta be forced to cut some players, the team will have to restructure certain contracts in order to put a complete roster together.

• S Ricardo Allen – frees $6.25 million
• OL James Carpenter – frees $4.04 million
• DL Allen Bailey – frees $4.5 million
• DL Tyeler Davison – frees $2.2 million

Ricardo Allen has missed four games in 2020 with different injuries, while James Carpenter has sat out of three. Both defensive linemen Allen Bailey and Tyeler Davison are rotational pieces for the Falcons. These four are the most likely to be cut and could save the team $16 million in cap space.

With Dante Fowler challenging Ray Edwards as the worst free-agent signing in franchise history, the Falcons may be inclined to eat his $15.3 million in dead money and hang on to his $3 million in savings. This would clear nearly $20 million in cap space, almost getting Atlanta out of trouble.

If the Falcons were to move on from Allen and Neal, the team would be extra thin at safety next season. Damontae Kazee and Sharrod Neasman will see their contracts end in the offseason as well. Atlanta will have second-year safety Jaylinn Hawkins returning, but the potential losses will make the position a key priority in the 2021 NFL draft.

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Patrick Mahomes ready to pack it in as wide receiver

Patrick Mahomes is going to let wide receivers do their job

Sometimes, you should stick to what you do best.

In Patrick Mahomes’ case, that would be to throw passes, not try and catch them.

The Chiefs’ quarterback took to social media Monday and suggested the time is right to take out any plays that have him try and be a wide receiver.

In the victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Sammy Watkins attempted to find Mahomes through some trickeration. Instead, the ball wound up in the hands of Keanu Neal of the Falcons for a pick.

And Tyreek Hill can be flagged for piling on.

10 things the Falcons must figure out over the final 3 games

Here are 10 things the Falcons must figure out over the final three games of the 2020 season.

The Atlanta Falcons have won just four games this season, and have already eliminated themselves from playoff contention. With a new general manager set to be hired in the offseason, the future is completely up in the air.

Here are 10 things the Falcons must figure out over the final three games of the 2020 season.

LOOK: Falcons rookies in team’s new all-black uniforms

More images of the Atlanta Falcons rocking their new all-black uniforms have been posted on social media and fans can’t seem to get enough.

More images of the Atlanta Falcons rocking their new all-black uniforms have been posted on social media and fans can’t seem to get enough.

The team’s Twitter account unveiled four of Atlanta’s rookies — Marlon Davidson, A.J. Terrell, Matt Hennessy and Mykal Walker — in the Falcons’ new design. Take a look below.

Plus, check out this menacing image of Falcons safety Keanu Neal in Atlanta’s new all-black jersey.

But how do Atlanta’s newest offseason additions look in the team’s new gear? Judge for yourself below. 

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Keanu Neal says back-to-back injuries ‘really hit hard’

Falcons safety Keanu Neal’s career got off to a dreamlike start, but the past two seasons have been an absolute nightmare for the former Pro-Bowler.

Falcons safety Keanu Neal‘s career got off to a dreamlike start, but the past two seasons have been an absolute nightmare for the former Pro-Bowler.

Neal suffered an ACL injury during the 2018 season-opener, then an Achilles tear during Week 4 of 2019. As a guest on The Jim Rome Show, Neal talked about how difficult it was working back from one serious injury just to have another one early the following season.

“The rehab was hard, but, you know, I stuck through it and made it through, but then, obviously the Achilles last year, that really hit hard,” said Neal.

Watch the Falcons safety’s appearance on Rome below.

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Falcons SS Keanu Neal shows off speed during workout video

After a promising start to his career, Neal’s previous two seasons were cut short due to serious leg injuries.

The success of the Atlanta Falcons in 2020 is contingent on the health of several of the team’s top players, including All-Pro safety Keanu Neal. After a promising start to his career, Neal’s previous two seasons were cut short due to serious leg injuries.

It was a crushing blow to see such a promising talent have to be sidelined yet again. Neal is a determined individual, though, and however unfortunate the injuries were, he’s working his way to a healthy return this season.

Based on this video released by the Falcons’ Twitter, Neal looks to be on track for a full recovery:

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