Raiders: Evaluating Johnathan Abram for 2020

Overtime Heroics Editorial

1936 days ago

With the 27th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders selected Safety Johnathan Abram out of Mississippi State. Throughout college, Abram highlighted his speed, strength, and range. There, he racked up 99 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, a forced fumble, and 5 pass breakups. While this was a great pick for the raiders addressing their struggling secondary, Abram did come with two big concerns. A shoulder injury kept him out of the Senior Bowl. As well his sometimes over-aggressive style of play were reasons for concern when he was drafted.

Rookie Season

Both of Abrams’s draft concerns turned into an NFL reality for the first-round pick in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos last season. During the first half, Abram lowered his head to initiate contact, knocking Broncos WR DaesSan Hamilton out of bounds. This play did not draw an immediate flag. However, Abram was later fined $28,075 along with learning he had re-injured his shoulder. Abram would go on to have surgery on his rotator cuff and miss the rest of his rookie season.

2020 Season Outlook

The Raiders are still trying to figure out their secondary who have underperformed in each of the last few seasons. With an aging Lamarcus Joyner (29) and Erik Harris (30), it is no doubt Abram will fit back into his starting role at the safety position. Abrams’s sideline to sideline speed and physicality in the run game is huge moving forward. As NFL teams begin to adapt to the evolving style of mobile quarterbacks, having a guy with the pursuit and energy that Abram possesses is exactly what any defense needs. If Abram can stay healthy he is no doubt on the right track to unleash his full potential during his second season.

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