Keanu Neal Exits Cowboys; Signs With Bucs

The safety-linebacker hybrid went one-and-done in Dallas.

Jeremy Brener | Apr 6, 2022

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys made it clear a week ago that Keanu Neal wasn’t being invited back to “America’s Team” … so instead, as he switches back from linebacker to safety, he’s signing with Tom Brady’s team.

Leighton Vander Esch and Micah Parsons

Micah Parsons

Leighton Vander Esch and Jerry Jones

With Neal in Tampa, the Cowboys will look to replace him in this month's NFL Draft. Or …

"We feel great that he’s the right fit for what (coordinator) Dan (Quinn) wants to do defensively,'' COO Stephen Jones recently told us, speaking of Jabril Cox. "Should be a big plus for us this year. He'll probably fill right in where Keanu left off.''

Combine Jones' veiled goodbye to Neal, who played for one year in Dallas after being with Quinn in Atlanta, with Jones' "It just didn't work out'' dismissal of the then still-free Wagner (who has just signed with the Rams), and ...

Yes. Dallas must feel pretty good about Cox.

Meanwhile, Neal, the former first-round pick, surely feels good landing on his feet with a legit Super Bowl contender while shifting back to the safety spot that has been his position during the bulk of his NFL career.

Neal is a Florida native who played at the University of Florida, so that is a fine fit. And in Tampa Bay, he will work under new head coach Todd Bowles, the defensive-minded ace who moves up as Bucs head coach in the wake of the retirement of Bruce Arians.

All of this can be a right move for all involved … Wagner to the Rams, Neal to the Bucs … as long as Jabril Cox, along with re-signed Leighton Vander Esch, are ready to carry a Dallas load alongside Micah Parsons.

Published Apr 6, 2022

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.