San Francisco 49ers beef up for another playoff run in 7-round 2020 mock draft
By Lucas Schuh
817. Pick Analysis. LSU. player. Scouting Report. Safety. Grant Delpit. 1
Safety is one of the more intriguing areas for the San Francisco 49ers entering the 2020 NFL Draft. Jimmie Ward played full-time at safety last season and was a player reborn. The problem is that Ward might be leaving in free agency as perhaps the best player on the open market at the position.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Beyond Ward, the 49ers lack quality depth at safety. Jaquiski Tartt and Marcell Harris were fine when they got the opportunity. However, neither player gave the 49ers much hope or optimism that they are ready to fill in for Ward if the talented player should leave San Francisco in free agency.
Grant Delpit has some qualities as a coverage player that NFL defensive coordinators dream of. The LSU product is talented when dropping into zone coverage and is a bonafide ballhawk in the middle of the field. He also has terrific short-area quickness. While also being gifted in zone coverage, Delpit is just as comfortable in man coverage, even if he’s slightly more adept when he’s asked to be in zone.
The one area, as has been widely discussed at this point, where Delpit has his shortcomings is with his tackling. Especially in 2019, the safety often simply whiffed on ball-carriers. That could be something that he struggles with in the NFL, though an injury in 2019 may have limited him to some degree.
However, Delpit’s shortcomings should not deter a team like the 49ers from drafting him. The elite traits every NFL team wants from a safety are present and he has the potential to be someone who erases tight ends from the equation when asked to cover them. If the 49ers were able to snag him at No. 31, they would surely be pleased with what he can offer.
Other Players Available: Denzel Mims, Terrell Lewis, A.J. Terrell