Report: Saints to Sign S Johnathan Abram

New Orleans adds the 27th selection in the 2019 NFL Draft to their secondary, per reports.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that the New Orleans Saints are planning on signing S Johnathan Abram. The signing is pending the results of a physical on Wednesday, according to Fowler. Terms of the deal were not disclosed as of Tuesday evening. 

The 26-year-old Abram was the 27th selection in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State by the Oakland Raiders. He appeared in just one game as a rookie because of injury. In 2020 and 2021 he intercepted three passes, recovered two fumbles, and totaled 202 tackles, including 116 stops in 2021.

Las Vegas did not pick up Abram's fifth-year rookie option for 2023. In fact, the Raiders waived him at mid-season last year. He'd be picked up by the Packers, who released him after three weeks. Abram finished the last six weeks of the season with the Seattle Seahawks. 

Nov 22, 2020; Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) against the Kansas City Chiefs. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Over his four-year career, Abram has three interceptions, 14 passes broken up, and nine tackles for loss among 267 solo stops. The 6-feet and 205-Lb. safety struggles in coverage, but can be an asset against the run near the line of scrimmage. 

New Orleans returns their starting safety duo from last year, Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye. Abram will compete for a spot against newly signed safeties Lonnie Johnson and Ugo Amadi as well as Smoke Monday, and undrafted rookie in 2022.