The Raiders dangled Johnathan Abram in trades leading up to last week’s deadline, and they are now moving on from the former first-round pick.
Las Vegas plans to cut Abram on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The veteran starter, whom the Raiders recently demoted, will be available on waivers. Abram has made 34 career starts, but the Jon Gruden-era draftee was unable to carve out a spot as a long-term Raiders piece. Just more than $1MM in base salary remains on Abram’s rookie contract. The Raiders have since announced the move.
Trades of Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper gave the Raiders three first-round picks in 2019. The team selected Josh Jacobs with the Mack-produced draft slot and landed Abram with the Cooper-obtained pick. The Bears and Cowboys, respectively, gave the trade acquisitions second contracts. The Raiders did not pick up Abram or Jacobs’ fifth-year options. The first pick from the first Gruden-Mike Mayock draft, Clelin Ferrell, is also playing out his rookie contract after never gaining a foothold as a viable starter.
The Raiders shopped both Abram and Ferrell before the deadline, but no takers emerged. Despite being on Las Vegas’ roster bubble this offseason, Ferrell has seen a greater snap share compared to Abram in recent weeks. Abram started the Raiders’ first six games but did not open the team’s Week 8 Saints matchup in the lineup.
Abram, 26, played at least 75% of the Raiders’ defensive snaps over their first six games. The Raiders saw the former No. 27 overall pick’s rookie season nullified by a torn rotator cuff and a torn labrum. He bounced back to return to the starting lineup in 2020 and tallied 116 tackles in 2021. During his final three Raiders seasons, Abram has played in three defensive systems. The Raiders have gone from Paul Guenther to Gus Bradley to Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator over the past three seasons. The Raiders’ defense, which has struggled regardless of coordinator for most of the 21st century, ranks 28th in both points and yards allowed.
Coverage issues have plagued the Mississippi State alum as a pro. While Pro Football Focus rates Abram outside the top 75 among full-time safeties this season, the advanced metrics site has Vegas starter Trevon Moehrig slotted in the bottom five at the position. The Raiders’ Josh McDaniels–Dave Ziegler regime brought in ex-Patriot Duron Harmon this offseason; the veteran has worked as a full-timer at safety since arriving.
Abram’s exit during his rookie contract makes him the fourth Raider first-rounder over the past four years who failed to play out his rookie deal. The Raiders cut Henry Ruggs and Damon Arnette within a two-week period last fall, with off-field incidents leading to each’s exit. Alex Leatherwood did not make it into his second season, being waived after training camp this year. Although the Gruden era produced draft hits like Maxx Crosby and Hunter Renfrow, the first-round misses have undoubtedly set the Raiders back.
Instead of cutting players how about cut that horrible coach. I know coaches can turn it around if things don’t go well on another team. But in what way did his last HC job show McDaniels was that guy . Raiders wasting talent with that coach
Josh McDaniels 2.0 going on here. How bad shape did he leave the Broncos?
Why? Unless he is someone who is making the team worse, I don’t get this. Kenyon Drake seems perfectly fine in Baltimore- I don’t understand cutting the guys in the last year of their contract unless they’re negatively impacting the team
It looks like a desperate attempt by McDaniels and Ziegler to distract from their embarrassing results thus far by reminding everyone how terrible Gruden and Mayock were at talent evaluation.
Jon Gruden the magical coach and talent scout. First round picks bust but that seems like nobody in the room is clueless to have 4 bust in that short of time. Why does Mayock still have a job? He is guilty too. Didn’t they draft Leathrrwood after Gruden was fired?
Hate to admit it but wanted Leatherwood in Seattle. Not sure how he would have done here but our 2 rookie tackles are doing great. I think for the price Abrams would be an interesting pickup if he makes it to Seattle. A million bucks won’t kill them.
Gruden/Mayock drafted Leatherwood in the 2021 draft.
Gruden was “fired” 5 games into the 2021 season
As far as I know Mayock doesn’t have a job at least with an NFL team and certainly not with the Raiders.
I forgot Mayock is not there. Happens with old age.
As I set out to prove (successfully) every day
I really hope Mayock gets another ‘draft analysis’ job. Clearly he’s terrible at it!
Jesus Christ this new regime is a joke. What’s the point of cutting a guy that they can let walk after their terrible season is over?
It goes way back but it seems all reason was left in Oakland. The Gruden hire was stupid. He took another coaches team to the SB. They were so good I could have coached them and won the SB.
You could say getting that haircut continually is a bad choice which it is. You would think there were people that could have talked him out of hiring Gruden. Doesn’t seem as stubborn as the old man could be. Has anyone heard if they have come to an agreement on Gruden salary remaining? He might lose it because of why he is not there. I am not sure never heard.
As a raider fan I would Mark Davis the team uses the money to buy the sports clip salon company. This franchise has been a dumpster fire for the past 10 years!
Abram is a hard hitter when he’s actually able to square up on someone. Being able to make tailor made highlight hits is nice but he can’t cover and he takes terrible routes to make tackles. Although the timing is kind of strange it will work out better for everyone involved. Abram gets a chance to latch on with another organization and we can give a roster spot to someone who might fit better into the scheme. The scheme is not exactly looking so hot right now but it will look even worse with the wrong personnel manning it.
They’ve had him playing up in the box more so than safety and he’s getting pushed around and ineffective against the run as well
Former 1st round pick on a rookie contract < some guy that was released by another team. Got it.
Yet another guy who the Steelers should bring in. Like yesterday
If he clears waivers, I could see the Giants maybe grabbing him considering McKinney’s broken hand.
Everyone but Derek Carr♂️
Sheesh. And they already cut Arnette, Ruggs, Leatherwood and traded Mullen. Who thinks Ferrell is next?