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We rounded up our favorite tweets about the
Damn
— Aaron Freeman (@falcfans) April 29, 2016
This was the first tweet in my timeline. I was so very excited to see Myles Jack was still on the board. Shaq Lawson and Darren Lee were still available as well. Actually, every player we hoped Atlanta had a chance at, was available. And more.
Falcons stayed at 17, and picked Neal.
With the No. 17 pick, the Falcons have selected Florida S @Keanu_Neal! Welcome to Atlanta! #ATLDraft #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/0dTQTs52zk
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) April 29, 2016
The official twitter account is excited. He's a great fit. The options were so surprisingly numerous that the Falcons would have struggled to make a bad pick.
Myles Jack’s knee might be as bad as we thought.
— Rise Up Reader (@RiseUpReader) April 29, 2016
As of the time of this writing, Jack is free fallin' deep into the back of the first round.
What a colossal mistake by the Falcons
— Kevin Knight (@KevinKnightATL) April 29, 2016
I'm not ready to go that far, but I can understand the disappointment. If the Falcons moved back 10 spots and took Neal, I think the move would have been widely applauded. They didn't, but adding a midround pick shouldn't make or break a draft.
Falcons get a D for Keanu Neal pick. The No. 17 overall pick ranked No. 176 on our board: https://t.co/mFE3hkR330
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) April 29, 2016
That isn't great.
Way too high
— William Ash (@willash22) April 29, 2016
It feels a bit high, but Karl Joseph went a few slots before. I can't blame the front office too much for playing it safe if Neal was always the guy.
Neal Grade: C+. They needed linebacker help more. He’s a thumper.
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) April 29, 2016
Prepare for another season of Paul Worrilow, but the Falcons should address WLB in round 2 or 3. I'll probably but this in the flat B range, but Neal will have to have a great career to justify this draft status and outperform that grade.
Instead, this is the reaction to Neal pick. Solid, but this could've been special. pic.twitter.com/ahaHthA7E6
— Aaron Freeman (@falcfans) April 29, 2016
Neal is a great fit, but Myles Jack is a transcendent player. I'm happy and disappointed all at once.
WE HANXED IT THO WTF
— I am Grinch (@JalenMuhammad) April 29, 2016
I think that is a bad thing.
RIP Falcons
— Alaaddin Baskurt (@Dyinglobster) April 29, 2016
At least they are at peace.
"This kid is a big hitter," Jon Gruden on Neal. Great scheme fit for Atlanta! #ATLDraft #RiseUp
— FalconsKelsey (@FalconsKelsey) April 29, 2016
And I keep forgetting that Neal is actually a great player. Falcons haven't had good play at safety since 2012. They haven't had anyone that could tackle since 2011.
Keanu https://t.co/RqUy6wigvx pic.twitter.com/SDPKDgfImx
— Laquon Tweetwell (@JasonKirkSBN) April 29, 2016
This post is brought to you by the Key and Peele guys.
#Falcons select S Keanu Neal. I'm not sure I'm a fan of this but I am a Gator fan.
— Wendy Adams (@wendyradio) April 29, 2016
Thanks Wendy, for this very weak endorsement of the guy you have been watching for years.
ok hes a good pick... but man i wanted Shaq Lawson so badly...
— B17 Playoff Bomber (@b17fortres) April 29, 2016
I have wanted the Falcons to seriously invest in the pass rush, and adding Lawson the year after Beasley would have been a great way to do that. However, the team added a few DL that can realistically rotate and pass rush well.
Quinn recruited Neal to Florida and he's a prototypical Dan Quinn safety. Has the length, speed Quinn covets.
— Jeanna (@jeannathomas) April 29, 2016
Yes. My problem with the linebackers (outside of Jack) were none of them were both fast and physical. Neal fits a pretty premium position, and has good size, good speed, and great tackling. He should be a star on a defense with so very few good players.
Team that worked out LB Myles Jack recently said they thought he was at about 80% (needed more conditioning work). #NFLDraft2016
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) April 29, 2016
That could have been a concern.
With all these opinions about Neal, how do you think Dan Quinn and Co. did during day one of the draft?
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