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Falcons exercise 5th-year option on S Keanu Neal

The hard-hitting safety will hopefully return to Pro Bowl form in 2019.

Keanu Neal’s career thus far has been a solid one for the Falcons. After having a combined 218 tackles during his first two seasons, he tore his ACL in the first game of 2018, and the Falcons clearly missed his intensity on the field.

Some good news came our way today, as the Falcons announced they have exercised the fifth-year option for the 2016 first-round pick, keeping him through at least 2020.

After being a surprise pick (for most people) during the 2016 NFL Draft, Neal has quickly gained the reputation of being one of the hardest hitting safeties in the league. In 2019, Neal tore his ACL in the Falcons’ season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles which sent him to injured reserve.

It appears, though, that Keanu Neal is on track to return to the Falcons for the 2019 season, and knowing he’ll be around through at least 2020 should make Falcons fans everywhere happy today.