LSU Football: Despite stellar career, could Grant Delpit fall on draft day?

After a stellar career with LSU football, Grant Delpit does not have the same NFL draft momentum that he did at this time last season.

At this time last season, any way-too-early 2020 NFL mock draft included LSU safety Grant Delpit going in the top 10.

After a season in which he won the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the top defensive back in the country, and a national championship and got the honor of wearing the prestigious No. 7 jersey for LSU, you would have thought that a season like that would have solidified Delpit’s position, but oddly enough, he could fall out of the first round altogether.

Delpit did struggle more this year than previously, especially with his tackling and missed assignments in coverage and you could make the argument by the end of the season that he was the third-best player in his own secondary and not even one of the five best players on what was a very talented defense.

The talented safety came onto the scene as a true freshman at LSU, which is an achievement of its own might I add, in head coach Ed Orgeron’s first full season as head coach of the Tigers. He finished the season with 60 tackles and an interception and helped lead LSU to a 10-3 season.

His sophomore season is where Delpit became one of the best players in the entire country. LSU had one of the best defenses in the country and Delpit was one of the reasons why. He finished the season with 74 tackles, five sacks and five interceptions. He proved to be one of the most versatile defenders in the country and that had him set up for a huge 2019.

LSU enjoyed a storybook season in 2019, mostly because that had the greatest offense in college football history, but their defense still remained a very solid unit. Delpit finished the year with 65 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and two interceptions. Delpit won the Jim Thorpe Award (though some thought undeservingly) and helped LSU win the national championship.

Let’s take a look at Delpit’s strengths and weaknesses and give him a projection on where he will be drafted.

Strengths

Delpit operates the best when he is a more in the box safety. By that, I mean Delpit can be a safety that can be used as a blitzer and to stop the run, almost like an extra linebacker. Delpit is a hard hitter and has natural playmaking instincts, evidenced by his career numbers in interceptions and sacks.

He breaks on the ball quickly and can stop receivers from gaining extra yards. Delpit is above average in man coverage and can be used against tight ends and backs.

Weaknesses

While some of Delpit’s weaknesses are overblown, there are some areas that he needs to improve upon if he wants to be a Pro Bowl caliber NFL player. Delpit is not the best tackler and that was never more evident this past season and it is the biggest area of improvement.

Delpit was also misused last year and was used far too often as a deep third safety like Earl Thomas or Ed Reed and that is just not the type of player that he is. He is not the most athletic of the defensive backs and that is going to scare teams away.

Draft Projection

Delpit will be one of the most interesting players to watch on draft night. He’s good enough and has the production to be a first round pick in the draft. I think he will fall to the later part of the first round due to his limited athleticism but I think in the right situation and scheme, Delpit can be a high impact player.

Projection: Late-first round