Atlanta Falcons: 5 Things fans should be thankful for this Christmas

4. Falcons 2016 Draft Class

I could be wrong, but I don’t remember a Falcons draft where there were so many players to come out and play great football in their first two professional seasons. Needless to say, Keanu Neal, Deion Jones, Austin Hooper, De’Vondre Campbell and Wes Schweitzer have all been key contributors on an Atlanta team looking for their second-straight NFC Championship ring in 2017-18.

More from Atlanta Falcons

• 2023 NFL Season: NFC South shaping up to be an exciting division
• 5 rookies to target for your Fantasy Football drafts In 2023
• 3 reasons why the Falcons can make NFC Championship Game
• Atlanta Falcons rookie pass rusher flashing early in training camp
• Ryan Tannehill to the Falcons feels inevitable at this point

I think every fan of the Dirty Birds can appreciate what Hooper, Campbell and Schweitzer have brought to the Falcons since 2016. However, it’s Neal and Jones who’ve been the biggest factors in taking the defense to another level in 2017. For a franchise who has struggled mightily in each of those categories for most of their existence, I can imagine Arthur Blank couldn’t be more excited.

We’ve heard Dan Quinn talk about making this defense more “fast and physical” and needless to say, Neal and Jones are two men who resemble that motto perfectly. Breathe easy Falcons fans, the front-office hit a home run with the 2016 draft class.