Former Mississippi State Safety Johnathan Abram Talks Signing One-Year Deal with New Orleans Saints

Johnathan Abram is signing a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints, as was announced this week.

Abram was originally drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2019 draft and made the roster first game. However, he suffered a torn rotator cuff and labrum during his first game.

In 2020, he started all 13 games that he appeared in and ended the season with 86 tackles. In 2021 he performed well again, collecting 116 tackles and starting 14 games.

While those two years went well for Abram, the 2022 season wasn't his shining moment. His contract was up and the Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels decided not to continue his career as a Raider.

When the Raiders cut him after eight games, the Green Bay Packers picked Abram up, only to drop him after just two games. Thankfully for Abram, the Seattle Seahawks gave him the opportunity to finish the last five games of the season. Abram completed the 2022 season with 15 games, 60 tackles, two quarterback hits, and three passes defended.

"The past couple years have taught me a lot, I kind of 'growed up'," said Abram "being in the lead, learning how to play, learning how to be a pro--how to go about my work every day. Bouncing around kind of taught me the ins and outs of how the league actually worked because I don't think a lot of guys do know."

Abram's new contract with the Saints gives him a year to show the NFL what he as to offer to the defense.

"I'm essentially just here to find out how I fit in to do what I do best be myself and just complement the guys around me, just try to make everybody better pretty much every day," Abram said "that's all I look forward to doing."

With the Saints bringing Abram closer to Mississippi, it will be interesting to see how he plays now that he is closer to home.

"Coming here to New Orleans I just look forward to maximizing my opportunity and every opportunity they give me and making the most out of it (is what I'm looking to do)," Abram said.

Since he was a free agent this season, Abram has a good deal of freedom in landing with the team he wanted to play for next. Since he is from Columbus Mississippi, it's no surprise that he wanted to play for the team he grew up watching.

"I'm just more grateful that I got to choose it to be closer to home, closer to my family so they can actually drive down and see me play more."

Abram was an impact player at safety during his days at Mississippi State. He played in 26 games with 18 starts and ended his college career with 170 tackles. Although he was ranked the No. 1 safety in the 2019 NFL draft, he had a lot of trouble getting his career started.