Coming into the 2019 season, LSU Safety Grant Delpit was a unanimous pre-season All-American and a consensus top 5 draft projection. The budding Junior was a freak of nature in the defensive back field for the Tigers. His knack for finding the ball and making big plays to go along with his obvious athleticism had scouts drooling. Fast-forward to 2020, and scouts are no longer buzzing about Delpit. This is criminal in my opinion. But, with the play of others and an abundance of missed tackles, the slip can be understood. To a degree. Grant Delpit is still the best safety in the 2020 draft. The former projected top 5 pick, who is now projected to possibly slip to the 2ndround, will be a steal for whoever is able to secure his talents.
Top 5 S Draft Prospects *According to USA Today*
Xavier McKinney | Alabama.
Antoine Winfield, Jr. | Minnesota
Grant Delpit | LSU
Kyle Dugger | Lenoir-Rhyne
Ashtyn Davis | California
The fall of Grant Delpit can be attributed to a couple different weaknesses that scouts have a difficult time getting over. The first, and most obvious, is run support. He missed 20 tackles last season and transitioning to the NFL will not be any easier. Playing in the box in a hybrid safety role is now more important than ever with teams throwing the ball down the field at a higher frequency. Think of a player like Tyrann Mathieu. He is essential to any defense because he can play in the box, stop the run, cover, and blitz when needed. All while not comprising in a “bad” matchup. Delpit was on the same trajectory but the tackling question mark has slated him in different waters than that of the honey badger. This red flag stems from another red flag. The safety battled an ankle injury all year that may have diminished his play and physicality a bit. His ability to stay healthy through the course of a 17-game season will be heavily examined. I do not think it is cause for concern as the injury is not long-term and his durability should be championed. Let’s not forget he is a two-time All-American.
It is important to take a step back and evaluate the positives in Delpit. At the very base of his game is a unique blend of football IQ, intangibles, and athleticism that cannot be taught. These qualities will allow the undervalued safety to transition smoothly to an impact player on defense. He can improve on his tackling and has shown the ability through his leadership to work hard and lead from the front. Yes, the tackling is a red flag, but it is not a large enough flag to deter me from the dynamic skill set. His measurables also check out and this will only aid in him becoming more physical at the point of attack. In the NFL, the safety position demands a player to be fluid in moving around the field. Delpit has shown he can play deep centerfield, adjust and play in the box, and even play man-to-man when needed. He is a first-round talent and should be treated as so.
The safety class is undoubtedly strong this year. It is not so deep that Delpit is the third or fourth rated safety that falls to the second round. Despite all the film watched, and advanced scouting, it boils down to a few distinct qualities. Delpit is always around the football, and the combination of athleticism and football IQ is off the charts. This same football IQ will translate to a strong work ethic that make him a no-brainer regardless of the round. These easily visible traits lead me to believe that his lack of tackling is something that can be fixed and should not be a concern.