Without a quality safety, an NFL defense cannot be considered complete. With many in need of one in the 2019 NFL Draft let’s take a look at a stud, dud, and sleeper at the position.
Here’s a look at the next position group to be examined in our stud, dud, and sleeper series for the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft. Having a great safety to anchor a defense can lead to a team improving in both the run and passing defense.
Here’s a look at one stud, one dud, and one sleeper.
Stud: Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State
Mississippi State’s hard-hitting safety Johnathan Abram is a bit underrated heading into the draft but, whoever selects him is going to improve their secondary significantly. While Abram is not the most talked about safety prospect, and he may not even have the highest ceiling in this class, he has a high floor and a very good chance of finding success in the NFL.
Abram started his college career at Georgia but, then left to play a year of Junior College ball before transferring to Mississippi State. Once in Starkville is full potential was on display.
Johnathan Abram made at least 70 tackles in each of his two seasons with the Bulldogs. As a senior in 2018 Abram had 93 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. This big season earned Abram second-team All-SEC honors.
Abram showed he can make plays all over the field whether it was stopping the run, locking down tight ends and wide receivers, or getting to the quarterback. Abram is an aggressive player, which can sometimes result in him missing tackles.
There are some questions about the pace of his mental processing when he has to drop deep into zone coverage, but he holds is own on shallower coverage assignments. Abram was not asked to play in man coverage much but has the size to do so.
There is little question about Abram’s motor and effort, but he does have bouts of inconsistency from game to game. Abram is in the mold of a more traditional strong safety, but had adequate athleticism and as long as he tests well at the combine should be selected early in the 2019 NFL Draft.
His versatility makes him an NFL ready player ready to make an impact. Abram does have some growing to do, and he will need to land in a system that allows him to play to his strengths. Abram will be an asset against the run early in his career, and if his coverage skills develop to even an average level Abram could be a pro bowl level player.