The Las Vegas Raiders selected Johnathan Abram in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft with the idea that he would be a real backbone of their defense for years to come. Though not the best in coverage, Abram is a safety that is known for delivering big hits and can really set the tone.
But with this season on its way to spiraling out of control after such high expectations coming in, some changes were to be expected after the team fell to 2-6 on the season after their latest loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. But this one still came as a surprise.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Raiders have released Abram, and the fourth-year safety will now enter waivers:
A surprise: The #Raiders are releasing former first-round pick safety Johnathan Abram, per source. pic.twitter.com/E8BjfpRvhT
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 8, 2022
The move definitely comes as a surprise as Abram is the Raiders’ second-leading tackler this season with 48, and was also second on the team last season as well with 116. Abram was reportedly being shopped at the trade deadline by the Raiders, however, and with the team not finding any suitors, perhaps they simply felt it was best to part ways instead of keeping him on for the rest of the season.
Abram was in the final year of his rookie contract, so his future with the team was up in the air, to begin with, and his role was diminishing as the weeks went on. The safety played in just 46 percent of defensive snaps in last week’s loss to the Jaguars, which was actually up from the previous week when he saw the field on just 34 percent of snaps against the Saints.
The Raiders’ defense, especially against the pass, has simply not been up to par this season. The team ranks 27th in the league in points allowed and is 26th against the pass. As was already happening, Duron Harmon and Trevon Moehrig are locked in as the team’s safeties for the time being.
