Browns snag Grant Delpit to help secondary

The Cleveland Browns selected safety Grant Delpit out of LSU in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, 44th overall.

Delpit will reunite with former Tigers teammate Greedy Williams in the Browns' secondary.

Cleveland needed to find a long-term answer at safety with projected starter Karl Joseph and Andrew Sendejo signed just for 2020.

The Browns took the safety after trading down from No. 41 in a deal with the Indianapolis Colts.

Prospect Profile

School: LSU
Height: 6-2
Weight: 213 lbs

Positives

• Versatility to play up high, in the box, or in the slot
• Athleticism and fluidity to play man coverage
• Excellent instincts in zone up high and underneath
• Good range as deep safety
• Ball skills to make a play at the catch point
• Aggressive flying downhill in the run game
• Willing to mix it up with linemen and sheds blocks
• Physical approach to tackling
• Effective blitzer from the second level

Negatives

• Major issues with missed tackles
• Inconsistent angles to the ball in pursuit
• Doesn't come to balance for ideal tackle approach

Bottom line

Delpit could be the most polished and versatile coverage player in this draft. Able to lock down the opposition at all levels of the field with a combination of football intelligence and athleticism, the LSU standout can be moved all over the field. He's also a physical tone-setter on the back end, and his explosiveness can be utilized in a pass-rush role. The lone concern about his game is some not insignificant issues with missed tackles. Delpit's coverage value gives him a high ceiling regardless, but cleaning up his pursuit angles and finishing ability could make him a perennial Pro Bowler.