3 cheap free agents Packers must add before the 2022 draft

S Keanu Neal could help Packers’ secondary depth

The Packers have had success signing former Atlanta Falcons defenders (see: Campbell, De’Vondre). Maybe safety Keanu Neal could also benefit from a fresh start in Green Bay.

Matt LaFleur was coaching in Atlanta when Neal was drafted in the second round. And he saw Neal at his best. Neal would be named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team that season before earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2017. Neal is a hard-hitting safety who also spent some time at linebacker in Atlanta.

After two strong seasons, Neal was hit with some awful injury luck. He suffered a torn ACL in 2018 then a torn Achilles the following year. Neal was limited to just four games in those two seasons combined.

Neal would play 15 games in Atlanta in 2020 before moving to the Dallas Cowboys last season, where he made a switch to linebacker. It didn’t work out too well, so he is now moving back to safety.

The Packers are in need of a third safety to play with starters Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage. They may find that player in this month’s draft, but Neal should also be a consideration. Green Bay can probably sign Neal to a cap-friendly, one-year deal. He is only 26 years old.

While Neal has had some bad injury luck and struggled last season, he was a Pro Bowl safety at his best. Maybe in Joe Barry’s defense, he could reach those heights once again.