Tag: Micah Abraham

In the sixth round of the NFL Draft, the Colts provided some added competition to the cornerback position by selecting Micah Abraham out of Marshall.

Compared to many of the previous cornerback selections that we’ve seen GM Chris Ballard make, Abraham would be considered undersized at 5-9 – 185 pounds.

He also posted a Relative Athletic Score of 3.70, well below the typical 9.0 threshold that Ballard has stuck to in the past few drafts. However, Abraham did run a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, and as Zach Hicks of Horseshoe Huddle pointed out, Abraham moves much better on film than what his athletic testing would suggest.

Abraham is a very experienced player from his time at Marshall, with over 3,200 career snaps, the majority of which came on the boundary, but Chris Ballard mentioned he can play in the slot as well.

During his five-year career, he allowed a completion rate of only 49 percent and had terrific on-ball production – something the Colts need more of – totaling 55 pass deflections and 12 interceptions, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.

The addition of Abraham hopefully helps elevate the floor of the Colts’ cornerback position, a unit that, at the moment, does have some unknowns entering the 2024 season. As Ballard said in his pre-draft press conference, while this was a young group in 2023, they are no longer rookies, and improved play is expected.

For a closer look at what Abraham can bring to the Colts, here are some of his top highlights from his time at Marshall:

After trading back with the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round, the Colts gained a sixth-round selection after trading theirs away on Day 2 to move up a few spots to select Matt Goncalves. With that 201st pick, the Colts took Marshall cornerback Micah Abraham.

At 5-9 – 185 pounds, Abraham is a bit undersized compared to the cornerbacks that the Colts have traditionally targeted under GM Chris Ballard. His overall Relative Athletic Score is an outlier as well at 3.70–although Abraham does have 4.4 speed.

Abraham is a very experienced player, with 3,246 career snaps, most of which have come on the boundary. Throughout his five-year playing career, Abraham has allowed a completion rate of just 49 percent and has displayed excellent ball skills, with 34 pass breakups and 12 interceptions, according to PFF.

Given his size, could have Abraham compete for the backup nickel role behind Kenny Moore, but overall, he adds depth and competition to a position group where that’s needed.

For more on Abraham and what he brings to the Colts’ defense, here is what a few draft experts had to say in their pre-draft scouting reports:

Lance Zierlein – NFL.com

“Ball-hawking cover man with impressive instincts and rare ball production. Abraham is highly experienced as a wide corner, but a lack of size will necessitate a move to the slot. He plays with greedy eyes and is constantly looking to make a play on the football. He looks twitchier on tape than he did at his pro day and already possesses NFL-caliber ball skills. His technique and pad level can be sloppy, and that must be ironed out if he is to have a shot at covering NFL slot targets. His aggressive mindset extends to his hitting and tackling. Abraham is capable in man or zone coverage, but zone might give him the best chance to shine at the next level.”

NFL Draft Diamonds

“Micah Abraham shows good traits and abilities to be a good player at the next level but needs to improve in some key areas to find success, which is why I see him as a bit of a project right now. Abraham could translate better in Man down the round, but with his instincts and ball skills he may perform better in a Zone scheme early on until he can clean up the technique issues he showed in Man this past year.”

With the 201st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Micah Abraham, cornerback from Marshall. Here is a quick breakdown of the pick.

Height: 5-9

Weight: 185

RAS: 3.70

Stats to know: Abraham is a very experienced player with 3,246 career snaps, the majority of which have come lined up on the boundary. Over his career, Abraham has allowed a completion rate of only 49 percent and 15.1 yards per catch. He’s had very good ball production as well, with 12 interceptions and 34 pass breakups. Missed tackles have been an issue, but Abraham did play 505 career special teams snaps.

Fit with Colts: Selecting Abraham is a bit of an outlier selection for GM Chris Ballard. He’s a bit undersized and didn’t test all that well. However, there is something to be said for his experience and ability to make plays on the ball. Abraham provides depth where competition is needed and could compete for snaps on special teams.

Profile from NFL Draft Diamonds: “Micah Abraham shows good traits and abilities to be a good player at the next level but needs to improve in some key areas to find success, which is why I see him as a bit of a project right now. Abraham could translate better in Man down the round, but with his instincts and ball skills he may perform better in a Zone scheme early on until he can clean up the technique issues he showed in Man this past year.”