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Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff isn't perfect. In fact, during his tenure as GM, The Comrade has made many questionable decisions. But he's not a complete screw up. Look no further than the 2016 NFL Draft if you're searching for proof.
Rookie defenders Keanu Neal and Deion Jones didn't wow the fan base as draft picks, at least not initially. Critics wondered whether Neal was a "reach" and nervously chided the front office for drafting a 215 pound middle linebacker in the second round. Fast forward eight months and it all makes sense. The front office wanted to fill two pressing needs as as soon as possible and they did just that. Here's an interesting statistic about Neal and Jones:
Leading NFL tacklers among rookies...
— Mike Conti (@MikeConti929) December 29, 2016
1. Deion Jones, ATL: 100
2. Keanu Neal, ATL: 99
3. Daryl Worley, CAR: 84
(https://t.co/kwZwP2716w)
To be frank, judging defensive players by their tackle totals is like giving Dave access to your beer fridge. Even so, their tackle totals demonstrate an important point: these guys are involved. That, Falcons fans, is invaluable.
Your thoughts?