The Las Vegas Raiders’ high-energy third-year player, Johnathan Abram, had his season end back in Week 15. His play in the last game makes the injury that much more painful, as he may have played the best he had all season. Abram has been a polarizing player for the team since being drafted, and now with another injury, many will wonder if he should be brought back or let go following the season. Should he be let go or brought back? Let’s take a look.
The Bad
The Good
Abram brings energy, passion, and love for the game. He is well-liked by his teammates and has shown this season that he can diagnose both run and trick plays. He’s made multiple plays in the backfield and has had his fair share of key stops. He has 116 total tackles this season, good for second on the team, and he has played his best games, making key stops against the Browns before being injured. Abram wanted to play through, but was shut down by the doctors and was told to shut it down. No one can question the man’s toughness, but it takes more than that to be a great NFL safety.
Will he be back?
Abram has been a player that has drawn criticism and sparked feelings of joy with his hits, but will he be kept next season? Abram is set to earn nearly $8 million next season, and given his ups and downs, many wonder if he should be brought back. The way this year ended, maybe the Raiders should give him one more chance to show once and for all that he is worth the first-round pick.
What are your thoughts, Raider Nation? Bring Abram back for another year or let him go?
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*Top Photo: Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire/Getty
I appreciate Abram’s fire, but he simply isn’t a good safety, especially in coverage. It is possible that the Raiders could craft some sort of hybrid safety role for Abram, but he would probably continue to be a liability in coverage as he doesn’t have the size to cover tight ends and he doesn’t have the speed to cover WRs. Maybe he could be effective against some running backs, but that sort of specialization seems sort of superfluous. If he is kept around, it will likely be for cap reasons than because he is seen as a key player on defense.