Kemal Ishmael is one of the better seventh round success stories in recent Falcons history, if not all of Falcons history. Since becoming the team’s final draft selection out of eight picks in 2013, Ishmael has outlived all but three players from that Falcons class, starting 20 games out 65 and making some very big plays along the way, including an interception returned for a touchdown and five picks over all.
The secret to Ishmael’s success is that he’s an aggressive, hard-hitting safety (and now linebacker) who has always had genuine special teams value.