Round 1, Pick 21
Grant Delpit Safety, LSU
The more I think about it, the more difficult time I have believing that Howie was caught flat-footed with Malcolm Jenkins. The simple truth is that if the team wasn’t comfortable with losing him then he would still be here—the idea that they were scrambling for a “plan B” over at the NovaCare complex feels far-fetched.
Obviously I’m speculating, but the more likely scenario is that Howie has identified a handful of offseason scenarios that involved moving on from Malcolm that he and the rest of the decision-makers are comfortable with—alternative “plan A”s if you will. One such scenario (the most obvious one) is that he’s identified one or both of the top two safety prospects in the 2020 class as a seamless replacement for Jenkins’ Swiss-army-knife role in the defensive backfield.
Delpit provides Howie with a unique opportunity to fill Jenkins’ shoes through the draft. The LSU product is a walking highlight reel and as elite of a defensive prospect as they come. He’s a rangy, uber-athletic thumper with a nose for the football; he has a high IQ, is instinctive, and can play in any number of coverages.
The biggest concern about losing Jenkins was replacing the versatile role he filled week-to-week. Though while Jenkins was forced into such a role out of necessity, Delpit was born and bread for it.
While wide receiver has consistently been mocked to the Birds, the Jenkins decision was likely a pivot-point in the decision-making process. Delpit is a surefire safety prospect, and none of the receivers who figure to be available at 21 presents a floor anywhere near as high as Delpit.
Delpit’s draft stock is far lower than it should be due to tackling issues, and while those concerns are real, they’re being wildly overblown. He was the unquestioned heart, soul, and leader of the LSU defense, and major asset in the locker room—the perfect replacement for Malcolm Jenkins.
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