Seahawks 90-Man Roster Rundown: Ryan Neal

Called upon once again to step in for an injured Jamal Adams late last season, Neal didn't disappoint and provided a spark for Seattle. But with the All-Pro returning healthy, the former FCS standout may have a tough time finding the field much on defense in 2022.

Corbin K. Smith | Jul 22, 2022

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Seattle Seahawks

With the calendar flipping to July and offseason programs wrapped up across the country, NFL training camps will begin around the NFL in less than a month's time. To celebrate the new incoming season, the All Seahawks staff will be breaking down the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks, exploring best and worst case scenarios and what to expect from each player entering the 2022 campaign.

Ryan Neal, Safety

Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 200 pounds

2021 Stats: 49 tackles, three pass breakups, one sack

Despite being benched at one point during his college career at Southern Illinois, Neal signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent immediately after the conclusion of the 2018 NFL Draft. He lasted only two weeks into training camp before being waived, eventually landing with the Falcons and spending most of the season on their practice squad. Released by Atlanta the following August, Neal appeared in three games for Seattle late in the 2019 season after being elevated to the active roster. Battling through adversity, he briefly considered retirement after the Seahawks cut him prior to the 2020 season, but he opted against it and re-signed with their practice squad. Once Jamal Adams went down with a groin injury, he played the role of hero by intercepting Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the end zone for a game-winning turnover. Proving his worth in Adams' stead, he racked up 44 tackles and two interceptions in 13 games, which allowed him to avoid the chopping block last fall. Once again filling in admirably for Adams in five starts, he set a new career-best with 49 tackles and added a trio of tackles for loss for good measure in 2021.

Best Case Scenario: Benefitting from Seattle's desire to play more nickel and dime coverage, Neal etches out a situational sub-package role to receive consistent defensive playing time on Sundays while remaining an integral cog on special teams. After setting career-highs in several categories, he hits free agency next March with a healthy market of suitors.

Worst Case Scenario: With Marquise Blair back healthy and Justin Coleman returning to handle slot cornerback duties, Neal doesn't have a clear path to defensive playing time. Adams avoids the injuries that hindered him in the past two seasons, leaving the former Saluki to only play special teams.

What to Expect in 2022: Anytime the Seahawks have called upon Neal, he has came through for them in a big way thanks to his physicality, toughness, and underrated ball skills. Two years ago, with Adams sidelined for nearly a month, he provided the secondary with a monumental lift. Even late last year when the playoffs were out of reach, his presence ensured Seattle wouldn't have to deal with a massive drop off in play at strong safety. Just like the past two years, however, Neal will probably need injuries to strike again for him to have much of a role on defense, especially if Blair bounces back and stays on the field. It's possible he could be a fixture on dime sets, depending on the opponent. Barring an unexpected ascendance from an undrafted rookie, his spot on the roster should be safe and even if he only plays special teams for the most part, he will give the Seahawks one of the best safety insurance policies in the entire league.

Previous Seahawks 90-Man Roster Profiles

Published Jul 22, 2022

CORBIN K. SMITH

Graduating from Manchester College in 2012, Smith began his professional career as a high school Economics teacher in Indianapolis and launched his own NFL website covering the Seahawks as a hobby. After teaching and coaching high school football for five years, he transitioned to a full-time sports reporter in 2017, writing for USA Today's Seahawks Wire while continuing to produce the Legion of 12 podcast. He joined the Arena Group in August 2018 and also currently hosts the daily Locked On Seahawks podcast with Rob Rang and Nick Lee. Away from his coverage of the Seahawks and the NFL, Smith dabbles in standup comedy, is a heavy metal enthusiast and previously performed as lead vocalist for a metal band, and enjoys distance running and weight lifting. A habitual commuter, he resides with his wife Natalia in Colorado and spends extensive time reporting from his second residence in the Pacific Northwest.