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These NFL rookies will outperform their draft position in 2020

By Rucker Haringey

AJ Dillon, Boston College Eagles. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
AJ Dillon, Boston College Eagles. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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Grant Delpit, Cleveland Browns
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 13: Safety Grant Delpit #7 of the LSU Tigers warms up before the start of the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. LSU defeated Clemson 42 to 25. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

S. 9. player. Scouting Report. Cleveland Browns. Grant Delpit. 53. Pick Analysis

Tackling concerns caused Delpit’s draft stock to plummet this season. He began the year as a consensus top-10 pick but ultimately fell to the Browns in Round 2. His talent level gives him a chance to comfortably develop into one of the best values in the entire rookie class.

He’s expected to slot into a pretty talented Cleveland secondary as the team’s starting free safety. The presence of Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams on the outside is going to give him a lot of freedom to take chances in coverage. Delpit’s range and athleticism give him a chance to make more than his share of interceptions.

Having Karl Joseph lining up as the team’s starter at strong safety should also alleviate concerns about Delpit’s ability to play with the physicality required to thrive in the NFL. Delpit doesn’t need to develop into Ronnie Lott to be an above-average starter in the modern NFL. He’s going to play the position in a much different fashion.

Browns fans should be excited about Delpit’s ability to patrol the deep third of the field and make plays on the football. No one should be surprised if he turns into a turnover machine as a rookie. He’s already got the coverage skills required to compete with top-end wide receivers.

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