Dave Choate from the Falcoholic is back to make his second pick for Atlanta in the SB Nation NFL writers mock draft. In the first round, he went with a tone setter up front with defensive end Shaq Lawson. With the 50th overall pick, he gets a tone setter for the secondary.
2016 NFL mock draft: Atlanta Falcons go with Keanu Neal
The Falcons get a tone setter for the back half of the defense in the SB Nation NFL writers mock draft.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
50. Falcons: Keanu Neal, S, Florida
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Choate: The Falcons’ secondary gets its enforcer with Neal, a hard-hitting, physical safety with the potential to be an elite strong safety down the line. Falcons coach Dan Quinn is familiar with Neal from his time with Florida, absolutely appreciates his skill set, and he’s strong against the run and at least decent in coverage out of the box. He’d join Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford and Ricardo Allen in a very strong, very young secondary that would help mitigate some of the team’s lack of pass rushing punch up front.
Also, his name is Keanu! Matrix jokes abound.
Analysis: The run on safeties in the second round continues. Four of our last eight picks have come at the position, which brings up a bit of an issue with this choice. Do you select the fourth safety over the top tight end, Hunter Henry? My nod with this pick probably would have been Henry, but Neal does complete the starting secondary.
Dan’s Top 5 players remaining
- 40. Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma
- 41. Joshua Perry, OLB, Ohio State
- 42. Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA
- 43. Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
- 46. Le'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech
Falcons picks
- 1-17: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
- 2-50: Keanu Neal, S, Florida
We have one more pick coming for the day in the SB Nation NFL writers mock draft. At 3 p.m. ET, Matt Mauro of Gang Green Nation will check in with his pick for the New York Jets.
Complete draft results:
First round
1. Tennessee Titans - Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss (Link)
2. Cleveland Browns - Jared Goff, QB, Cal (Link)
3. San Diego Chargers - Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State (Link)
4. Dallas Cowboys - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State (Link)
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Myles Jack, LB, UCLA (Link)
6. Baltimore Ravens - Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State (Link)
7. San Francisco 49ers - DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon (Link)
8. Philadelphia Eagles - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (Link)
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky (Link)
10. New York Giants - Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame (Link)
11. Chicago Bears - Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida (Link)
12. New Orleans Saints - A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama (Link)
13. Miami Dolphins - Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State (Link)
14. Oakland Raiders - Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State (Link)
15. Los Angeles Rams - Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson (Link)
16. Detroit Lions - Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State (Link)
17. Atlanta Falcons - Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson (Link)
18. Indianapolis Colts - Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama (Link)
19. Buffalo Bills - Reggie Ragland, MLB, Alabama (Link)
20. New York Jets - Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State (Link)
21. Washington - Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor (Link)
22. Houston Texans - Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor (Link)
23. Minnesota Vikings - Josh Doctson, WR, TCU (Link)
24. Cincinnati Bengals - Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss (Link)
25. Pittsburgh Steelers - William Jackson, CB, Houston (Link)
26. Seattle Seahawks - Jonathan Bullard, DL, Florida (Link)
27. Green Bay Packers - Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama (Link)
28. Kansas City Chiefs - Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech (Link)
29. Arizona Cardinals - Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss (Link)
30. Carolina Panthers - Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson (Link)
31. Denver Broncos - Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis (Link)
Second round
32. Cleveland Browns - Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State (Link)
33. Tennessee Titans - Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State (Link)
34. Dallas Cowboys - Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville (Link)
35. San Diego Chargers- Cody Whitehair, G, Kansas State (Link)
36. Baltimore Ravens - Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech (Link)
37. San Francisco 49ers - Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana (Link)
38. Jacksonville Jaguars - Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia (Link)
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State (Link)
40. New York Giants - Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia (Link)
41. Chicago Bears - Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama (Link)
42. Miami Dolphins - Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame (Link)
43. Los Angeles Rams - Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State (Link)
44. Oakland Raiders - Darian Thompson, S, Boise State (Link)
45. Los Angeles Rams - Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State (Link)
46. Detroit Lions - Jeremy Cash, S, Duke (Link)
47. New Orleans Saints - Joshua Garnett, G, Stanford (Link)
48. Indianapolis Colts - Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State (Link)
49. Buffalo Bills - Kamalei Correa, DE/OLB, Boise State
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