2020 NFL Draft Profile: Grant Delpit, Safety, LSU

In our individual draft features, each of our team assigns a rating from the rating system described below. We combine our ratings to give one rating, a projection for where he will get picked, and best fits in the NFL. Here is our 2020 NFL Draft profile of LSU safety Grant Delpit.

Rating System

0.0-1.0 – Bust, you won’t remember this name in three years

1.0-2.0 – Mostly minor leagues and practice squads, occasionally makes the top level

2.0-3.0 – Gets some minutes off the bench, not a major contributor

3.0-4.0 – System player – not much of a ‘wow’ factor but could be utilized in a good system

4.0-5.0 – Role Player/Depth Guy (3rd down back, run block TE, etc) – can fill a hole

5.0-6.0 – Fringe Starter on the Depth Chart

6.0-7.0 – Top of the Depth Chart potential

7.0-8.0 – Starter with big season potential

8.0-9.0 – Consistent All-Star, one of the best in the league at his position

9.0-10.0 – Future Hall of Famer

Grant Delpit

College Kids Talking College Sports Grade: 7.6

Grade Range: 6.3 to 9.0

Best NFL Fits: New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints

Projection: Round 2, Pick 6 – Carolina Panthers

Analysis: No, I didn’t list the Panthers as a best fit for Delpit for a few reasons. One is the Giants, Browns, and Saints are more in the market for a safety than the Panthers, and they have better reason to pick one up. I have no doubt that all of those teams will, but I believe Delpit will go earlier than any of those teams are willing to commit to the position. Meanwhile, the Panthers may prefer a corner, but there are far more corner-needy teams entering this draft. The lack of teams searching for a safety that will start right off the bat makes me think that Delpit, a first-round talent, will slip into the early stages of the second round.

Carolina may not be desperately seeking a safety, but their entire defense is need of upgrading. For anyone not paying attention, they will now be facing Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Matt Ryan for a combined six games out of the year, and I’m not sure Carolina has a high-quality starter on their defense. Delpit will be far too enticing a talent to pass on early in the second round, and the Panthers will gladly take the LSU star and insert him into the starting lineup right away. Our entire team is pretty high on Delpit, as all of us believe he is ready to be a first-year starter, and if Carolina sees him in the second round, that’s an absolute steal.

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2020 NFL Draft Features: Henry Ruggs, WR, Alabama

In our individual draft features, each of our team assigns a rating from the rating system described below. We combine our ratings to give one rating, a projection for where he will get picked, and best fits in the NFL. Here is our 2020 NFL Draft profile of Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs III.

Rating System

0.0-1.0 – Bust, you won’t remember this name in three years

1.0-2.0 – Mostly minor leagues and practice squads, occasionally makes the top level

2.0-3.0 – Gets some minutes off the bench, not a major contributor

3.0-4.0 – System player – not much of a ‘wow’ factor but could be utilized in a good system

4.0-5.0 – Role Player/Depth Guy (3rd down back, run block TE, etc) – can fill a hole 

5.0-6.0 – Fringe Starter on the Depth Chart

6.0-7.0 – Top of the Depth Chart potential

7.0-8.0 – Starter with big season potential

8.0-9.0 – Consistent All-Star, one of the best in the league at his position

9.0-10.0 – Future Hall of Famer

Henry Ruggs III

College Kids Talking College Sports Grade: 6.6

Grade Range: 6.0 – 7.0

Best NFL Fits: New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles

Projection: Round 1, Pick 13, San Francisco 49ers

Analysis: Ruggs is most definitely one of the elite wide receivers in this deep class of pass-catchers, but he’s not even the best on his team. We were all pretty consistent with our grading, with the lowest mark given to Ruggs being a flat 6, and the highest being a 7.0. Ruggs projects as a Year-1 starter, but he will likely be getting drafted to a receiver-needy team that may need him to be their top option. Having thrived playing with Jerry Jeudy at Alabama, Ruggs may need an adjustment period to get used to dealing with the opposing defense’s top corner.
His best fits are the Eagles, desperately in need of a receiver, or the Patriots and the 49ers. The Patriots will be getting a new quarterback, but their system is built around getting big plays out of slants and screens, something the speedy Ruggs is built for. The 49ers could use a more explosive option in the passing game, and playing with George Kittle and the 49ers’ run-first approach, Ruggs could get a chance to thrive in San Francisco. This would be a great selection for both the Alabama star and the 49ers at pick #13.

2020 NFL Draft Features: Cole Kmet, CeeDee Lamb, Jonathan Taylor

In another series of articles to pass the time while we wait for sports to restart, we will profile a few players who entered the 2020 draft. Today we covered three higher profile, skill position players, but we will also be focusing on lesser-known names and linemen and defensive prospects as well.

Cole Kmet 

Cole Kmet is a junior tight end from Notre Dame, and he is regarded as the top player at his position. At 6’6 and 262 pounds, he’s a projected 2nd-round pick, ranked 60th overall on CBS’s draft board. In 2019, Kmet was a top target in the passing game for the Irish, catching 43 passes for 515 yards and six touchdowns. He has played in 35 of 39 career games at Notre Dame. 

Teams that figure to be targeting a tight end early in the draft are the New England Patriots and Washington Redskins, while the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals may also be in the mix. Another team may try to scoop Kmet up as the best available prospect, but those four teams appear to be the most needy for a tight end as the draft approaches.

Prediction: 2nd Round, Pick 12 – Indianapolis Colts

CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma

CeeDee Lamb is a junior wide receiver out of Oklahoma and universally considered one of the top two receivers in this year’s draft, along with Jerry Jeudy from Alabama. Lamb measures in at 6 feet, 2 inches, and weighs 198 pounds. An elite receiver all three years with the Sooners, Lamb cemented himself as one of the best in the nation this year, gaining All-American status. He snared 62 receptions for 1,237 yards, leading the FBS in yards per catch, helping lead the Sooners to the College Football Playoff. He is a projected first round pick. 

Lamb would likely go in the Top 10, but there are not many teams drafting early in need of a premier wide receiver. The first true receiver-needy team is picking eleventh, as the Jets will likely be looking to replace Robby Anderson. The Raiders and 49ers, both looking to add a dynamic playmaker, select 12th and 13th, so the likelihood is Lamb will not be on the board past that point. The Broncos (15th) and Eagles (21st) will most likely need to trade up if interested. 

Prediction: Round 1, Pick 11 – New York Jets

Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

Jonathan Taylor is a junior running back from Wisconsin, and he will likely be one of the first backs off the board this year. He’s won the Doak Walker award in both his sophomore and junior seasons, and he’s been an All-American in all three seasons. At 5’10 and 226 pounds, Taylor features electric speed that he has put to use as both a runner and receiver on the gridiron, while also running for the Wisconsin track team in the spring of 2019. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry, while also grabbing 26 receptions for 252 yards in the passing game. He’s likely to go in the second round of the draft, especially with a lack of teams making running back their top priority. 

While few teams will consider drafting a running back in the first round, there are a bevy of teams that will be interested in Taylor and others in the middle rounds. The Bills, Buccaneers, Rams, and Dolphins are among those likely hunting for an early-to-mid-round selection at the position. Ultimately, I think the Bucs will be the first one to snag a running back, and the decision likely comes down to Jonathan Taylor or De’Andre Swift from Georgia. I’m saying the Bucs snatch up Taylor to give Tom Brady a dynamic window as they enter their window to win. 

Prediction: 2nd Round, Pick 13 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers