Chicago Bears: 3 Prospects to avoid in 2019 NFL Draft

1. Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State

In college, Johnathan Abram was the prototypical old-school strong safety. He wasn’t stellar in coverage, but he could come down in the box and lay a big hit as well as few others could. For instance, he got the team’s spring game stopped when he clocked the running back that was his teammate.

With Adrian Amos out the door and now in Green Bay, why wouldn’t you want a guy that could play a very similar role to the departed Amos?

It’s because Abram can’t do much besides lay the big hit. In three seasons, he had just two interceptions and he only defensed 10 passes. His coverage skills were average at best and he often lacked the skills to read where plays were going before they happened. The Bears need their safeties to be able to do both things at an at least average level. Amos was primarily a run-stopper, but he could drop back in coverage without looking completely lost.

Abram doesn’t possess that same talent. He’s too stiff and upright when he’s tasked with covering opposing tight ends. The Bears brought in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix this offseason to replace Amos for the year and, if they want to grab a developmental player with a higher ceiling, they could look at someone like Darnell Savage out of Maryland. If you want further proof a player like Abram doesn’t last in the modern NFL, go see how former first-round pick Calvin Pryor is doing.