3 former Dallas Cowboys who can get revenge in 2022
2. Keanu Neal, S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Keanu Neal was one of a few defenders to follow Dan Quinn from the Atlanta Falcons to the Cowboys. After signing with Dallas on a one-year deal ahead of 2021, the five-year safety was switched to linebacker. The move was said to be done to allow Neal to use his tackling abilities. He was decent as a linebacker, but you could tell that safety was certainly where he was most comfortable.
Neal was a former first-round pick in 2016 and had an immediate starting role. He put together two 100+ tackle seasons in his first two years with Atlanta and even earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2017. From there, injuries kept him off the field for the majority of 2018 and 2019.
He only started five games with the Cowboys, but still managed to collect 72 tackles. This was far from an ugly or tumultuous departure, but Neal likely wants to show the Cowboys why they made a mistake in throwing him in the linebacker rotation. He even tweeted out that he would be changing back to the safety position weeks before the Bucs chose to pick him up.
Yes. Playing LB was a choice. Just wait https://t.co/bYFfVgEfMc
— Keanu Neal (@Keanu_Neal) March 20, 2022
Neal will get a chance to prove himself in Week 1. It will be a rematch of an exciting game that he was on the other sideline for last year. Now, he joins a highly boosted Tampa Bay defensive back corps with names like Carlton Davis, Antoine Winfield Jr., Logan Ryan, and Jamel Dean. He also can likely give some advice and pointers to his new NFC South teammates.