Neal, Jones named to PFWA All-Rookie Team

072916 FLOWERY BRANCH: Falcons strong safety Keanu Neal runs a drill during training camp on Friday, July 29, 2016, in Flowery Branch. Curtis Compton /ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: Curtis Compton

Credit: Curtis Compton

072916 FLOWERY BRANCH: Falcons strong safety Keanu Neal runs a drill during training camp on Friday, July 29, 2016, in Flowery Branch. Curtis Compton /ccompton@ajc.com

Falcons safety Keanu Neal and middle linebacker Deion Jones were named to the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie team on Tuesday.

Neal, who was drafted with the 17th overall pick last year, finished second on the team with 105 tackles. He started 14 games and added a physical presence to the defense.

Jones starter 13 of 15 games and led the team in tackles with 106. He also had three interceptions and 11 passes defensed.

Rookie of the Year: RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

Offensive Rookie of the Year: RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

Defensive Rookie of the Year: DE Joey Bosa, San Diego Chargers

ALL-ROOKIE TEAM

Offense

QB – Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

RB – Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys; Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears

WR – Sterling Shepard, New York Giants; Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

TE – Hunter Henry, San Diego Chargers

C – Cody Whitehair, Chicago Bears

G – Joe Thuney, New England Patriots; Laremy Tunsil, Miami Dolphins

T – Jack Conklin, Tennessee Titans; Taylor Decker, Detroit Lions

Defense

DL – Joey Bosa, San Diego Chargers; DeForest Buckner, San Francisco 49ers; Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs; Yannick Ngakoue, Jacksonville Jaguars

LB – Jatavis Brown, San Diego Chargers; Leonard Floyd, Chicago Bears; Deion Jones, Falcons

CB – Vernon Hargreaves III, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville Jaguars

S – Karl Joseph, Oakland Raiders; Keanu Neal, Falcons

Special Teams

PK – Wil Lutz, New Orleans Saints

P – Riley Dixon, Denver Broncos

KR – Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

PR – Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

ST – Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

NFL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: 1966MLB Tommy Nobis, Falcons; 1967-75 – no selections; 1976 – WR Sammy White, Minnesota Vikings; 1977 – RB Tony Dorsett, Dallas Cowboys; 1978 – Earl Campbell, Houston Oilers; 1979 – RB Ottis Anderson, St. Louis Cardinals; 1980 – Billy Sims, Detroit Lions; 1981 – RB George Rogers; 1982 – RB Marcus Allen, Los Angeles Raiders; 1983 – RB Eric Dickerson, Los Angeles Rams; 1984 – WR/KR Louis Lipps, Pittsburgh Steelers; 1985 – WR Eddie Brown, Cincinnati Bengals; 1986 – RB Rueben Mayes, New Orleans Saints; 1987 – ILB Shane Conlan, Buffalo Bills; 1988 – RB John Stephens, New England Patriots; 1990 – S Mark Carrier, Chicago Bears; 1991 – OLB Mike Croel; 1992-2012 – no selections; 2013 – RB Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers; 2014 – WR Odell Beckham, Jr.; 2015 – RB Todd Gurley, St. Louis Rams; 2016 – Ezekiel Elliott, D