New England Patriots 2019 NFL Draft: Johnathan Abram a hybrid fit at safety

The New England Patriots are one of a few teams reportedly hosting Mississippi State safety Johnathan Abram for a top-30 meeting prior to the NFL Draft.

While all the focus is getting younger at the wide receiver, tight end position and finding a successor to Tom Brady, the New England Patriots also need to get younger at the safety position.

With both Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung getting up there in age, don’t be surprised if Bill Belichick uses one of the team’s multiple early-round selections on a safety.  A perfect candidate who fits the mold of what Belichick likes in safeties is Mississippi State’s Johnathan Abram.

Ranked fifth among safeties, Abram is a hard-hitting safety who has the ability to be an NFL starter in the right system.

More from Chowder and Champions

• 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
• 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
• MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
• 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
• Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win

With the Patriots history of hard-hitting hybrid type safeties like Lawyer Milloy, Rodney Harrison and Patrick Chung, Abram’s versatility as a safety who can drop in the box and play linebacker is a value that certainly has gotten Belichick’s attention.

He will get a closer look at him when the Patriots hold a private workout with Abram, as reported by Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.

Standing at 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, Abram started 13 games in his final season at Mississippi State racking up 99 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, five pass breakups and a forced a fumble.  With his nine tackles for a loss, it shows that Johnathan Abram has a nose for the ball and has the ability to create havoc all over the field against the run and defending the pass.

Measured as one of the most intense defenders in the draft, Abram’s ability to match up against tight ends is also a notable quality.  Similar to what Chung can do as more of a hybrid player in the Patriots’ system, Abram fits the scheme almost perfectly.

Those attributes are the reason selecting Abram would be a nice addition for the New England Patriots.  Within his strengths he could be as good as Patrick Chung, but some of his weaknesses that includes a lack of control on the backend in coverage could compare him more to Brandon Meriweather who Belichick drafted back in 2007.

If you remember, Meriweather did make the Pro Bowl as a New England Patriots safety, but he did make some bonehead plays that limited his overall potential in the league.

Brandon Meriweather did get a chance to play behind Rodney Harrison in his rookie season just as Johnathan Abram would get an opportunity to play behind Chung and Devin McCourty.  That, along with being coached by one of the greatest defensive minds, should benefit the talent and potential of this talented safety.