2019 NFL Draft: Raiders go defense again, add safety Johnathan Abram
By Phil Poling
The Oakland Raiders add another immediate contributor in the 2019 NFL Draft, taking Mississippi State’s Johnathan Abram with the 27th overall pick.
He might’ve flown under the radar during the draft process, but this 5-foot-11, 205-pound safety is an absolute force. Abram will see the most success playing in the box, being able to contribute in the running game and knocking receivers out over the middle, but his biggest question marks are in coverage. Even with those deficiencies, he’s going to be able to make an immediate impact.
The Raiders’ defense was pretty bare after adding aging veterans and giving away Khalil Mack last season, but Jon Gruden is replenishing the talent rather quickly. Abram, much like their first overall pick Clelin Ferrell, is a Day 1 starter. That’s two instant upgrades for a team that struggled mightily a year ago defensively.
They also added Lamarcus Joyner via free agency, a move that likely pits former Mountaineer Karl Joseph on the outside looking in. There’s still plenty to address for the Raiders, but these few moves are a great starting point for Gruden and Mike Mayock. All things considered, Raiders fans have to be happy about this duos first draft together.
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The Raiders get great value out of Abram, adding a tough, immediate impact player to a team that’s looking for a culture shift. Antonio Brown might hamper that idea a bit, but with young guns like Abram, Ferrell, and running back Josh Jacobs, there’s a toughness in Oakland that’s taking the franchise back to their glory days. This pick deserves a B+ grade.