Johnathan Abram Talks Saints, Derek Carr, USO Tour

New Orleans Saints safety Johnathan Abram talks about quarterback Derek Carr, his recent USO Tour, and his new role with the team.

Johnathan Abram also hopes to enjoy a "second life" in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints alongside former Las Vegas Raiders teammates Derek Carr and Foster Moreau.  He spoke to our colleague, Ric Serritella of Sports Illustrated's NFL Draft Bible, about his recent trip to Japan as a part of the 2023 NFL-USO Tour.  The Saints defensive back spoke about his personal goals heading into training camp, Derek Carr, and his cultural experiences on tour in Okinawa, Japan.

"Thank god for the NFL for considering me and Roquan [Smith]," Abram told Sirritella.  "It was an amazing opportunity to go over and kind of see the impact that you have on, you know, the families, and these troops have been deployed over there.  It was an amazing experience."

The National Football League's United Services Organizations (USO) tour's purpose is for players to visit U.S. troops and their families at military bases.  As an extension of the NFL's Salute to Service, this year's NFL-USO tour visits with Abram and Smith included "reviewing an array of base activities, including unit visits, one-on-one meetings for mission briefings, and hosting NFL PLAY 60 camps onsite."

"The warm feel, and love they gave me and Roquan, it was amazing. It felt like an extension of the U.S., to be quite frankly honest.  Those guys and the families were so excited.  Some people over there they've been deployed for 3, 4 years.  Then just the locals themselves were trying to show us all the culture of Okinawa, the food places.  They took us out to some amazing sites, a Spa at night, and showed us some very amazing sites like the botanical gardens...Hopefully, they get another USO in the NFL partnership to go back over there because they certainly deserve it."

Smith, 26, is entering his fifth NFL season after the Raiders organization drafted him out of Mississippi State as the 27th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.  In 2022, he had a difficult season that involved being released mid-season from Las Vegas, picked up by Green Bay, waived after two games, and eventually ending up in Seattle.  New Orleans signed Abram to a free-agent deal on March 22 and rejoined his Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.

Aug 15, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and safety Johnathan Abram (24) during a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

"I've been with him for the last four years of my career. He played a vital role in me actually deciding to go to New Orleans.  Also, with it being close to home [Mississippi], that was another reason.  Derek is a great guy.  He lifts my morale. He's brought me closer to God...a lot of credit goes to him.  The kind of player and man that I'm becoming day to day. I give so much credit to the guy."   Johnathan Abram's words were an outstanding testimony to who Derek Carr is as a person and leader off of the playing field.

Abram also shared his thoughts on "trying to find a role" on the team in New Orleans.  About his goals, "the personal will take care of itself when the team wins," says Abram.  He looks forward to training camp and interacting with the people of "New Orleans, Louisiana, Mississippi, and surrounding areas with his Jonathan's Journey For Better foundation.

The Saints' safety battle during training camp should be one to watch.  Abram will battle for reps with veterans Tyrann Mathieu, Marcus Maye, Ugo Amadi, and second-year player Smoke Monday.

Abram has 43 game appearances, 36 starts, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, nine QB hits, and 267 total tackles in four seasons.  New defensive coordinator Joe Wood will stress position discipline, using instincts, making plays with interceptions, and creating turnovers.  Last season, New Orleans had a paltry seven interceptions, with Mathieu picking off three.

Could Johnathan Abram find his way into the active rotation at safety?

We shall see.