2020 NFL Draft: 5 Best Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates
5. Grant Delpit, S, Cleveland Browns
This one is a bit of a reach for a couple of reasons. The first, Grant Delpit‘s playing safety, a position that hasn’t seen a winner since there was an NFC Central. That winner, Chicago Bears safety Mark Carrier, came all the way back in 1990. The Bears team Carrier played on went 11-5. So if Delpit does win it, that’s good news for the Browns.
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Taking Delpit cemented the Browns as LSU-Pro, reuniting him with former teammate Greedy Williams. Of course, the offense has former LSU stars Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. as well. None of that has anything to do with why Delpit made this list.
The front seven is dangerous in terms of getting after the quarterback. Myles Garrett is next-level great but their interior with Sheldon Richardson makes life difficult for quarterbacks also — guess who’ll benefit.
Denzel Ward will lock down one side of the field as opposing quarterbacks look to pick on Williams. That’s where Delpit comes in. He’ll line up across from Karl Joseph, the tone-setter of the secondary in Joe Woods’ 4-3-under scheme with rolling safeties.
The team around Delpit will allow him to feast in coverage, especially since he’s capable of playing man-coverage in the slot. Additionally, he’s a solid run supporter and offers flexibility in terms of being able to play in single-high. Woods will put Delpit in an excellent position, making him a strong Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate.