Steelers free agent grades: Results are even uglier at the midseason mark

Steelers grade for Keanu Neal

Grade: C-

I really went back and forth here for Keanu Neal, as his contract isn’t anything significant, but his play also hasn’t moved the needle that much. While expecting big things out of the hybrid player was foolish, the hope was for him to fill the role of box defender about as well as Terrell Edmunds did previously.

He has been able to fill that void and has tried to provide a physical presence for this defense. He has been a steady contributor on defense and has graded out favorably. He isn’t an every-down defender, but he has a clear role on this team, and given his price tag, it’s hard to be mad at what this team has been given.

The main issue has been missed tackles. Neal has struggled to wrap up and bring players down, a needed trait when playing the role of a box defender. That said, this tracks with his previous rates, as Neal has never been a great tackler. That isn’t an excuse, but it means that we shouldn’t have expected a sudden sharp turnaround from the veteran.

All of this considered, I think a low C is a fair score. His contract is cheap, and he has a consistent role on the defense. He lacks any big plays though, and his missed tackles have been an issue. There has been nothing to brag about, but it hasn't been a complete disaster either.