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Oakland Raiders select Mississippi State star Johnathan Abram in first round of NFL Draft
By Adam Spencer
Published:
Johnathan Abram didn’t start the NFL Draft season being talked about as a first-round pick, but on Thursday in Nashville, the Mississippi State safety did end up hearing his name called.
The Oakland Raiders took Abram, who had a fantastic senior year for the Bulldogs, with the No. 27 overall pick in the draft.
Abram had a strong outing in the Senior Bowl, drawing attention to himself. He also had a fantastic 2018 season, recording 99 tackles (nine for a loss), three sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble.
Abram becomes the first Mississippi State defensive back to go in the draft since 2016, when Will Redmond was selected in the third round.
The Raiders selected three times in Round 1, taking Clemson DE Clelin Ferrell with the No. 4 overall pick and Alabama RB Josh Jacobs with the No. 24 pick. Abram will join a secondary that struggled at times last year, and will be counted on to provide an immediate impact.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
