Interesting Defender Mocked
March 11th, 2020
Defender mocked to Bucs.
As many of Joe’s loyal readers know, Joe isn’t like most people. For a lot of reasons.
One is, Joe doesn’t take the PFF tribe as football gospel. In fact, aside from their stats (“stats” and “grades” are two very separate things — Joe wouldn’t wipe his rear end with their grades, no matter how scarce toilet paper may become during this coronavirus pandemic), Joe just doesn’t have much use for the outfit.
Now here is a tricky thing: They did a mock draft where only analytics were used. Why is this tricky? Well, if they are using sorcery they hatched, the numbers are already corrupted and tainted.
If one would have done a mock draft before the season (of course, why would you do a mock draft before the season, you have zero clue of the draft order), it wouldn’t be a stretch to see the Bucs angling for LSU safety Grant Delpit.
And that’s who the PFF tribe has going to the Bucs, just based on their junk science, types George Chahrouri.
14. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — S GRANT DELPIT, LSU
The Bucs have quietly built a defense over the last year. They invested heavily in the cornerback position last season, and Delpit adds another playmaker on the back end. Delpit is projected to have the best playmaker rate (pass breakups plus interceptions) of any safety in this class, and he comps to the likes of Devin McCourty and Earl Thomas III.
Entering the 2019 college football season, Delpit was thought to be the top safety the nation — the obligatory Honey Badger as well as the patron saint of safeties, Derwin James. Something happened along the trail of LSU winning a national title, though. Delpit didn’t have a great year that many expected.
Delpit’s profile on NFL.com by Lance Zierlein isn’t exactly glowing. He notes Delpit doesn’t have an “alpha” mentality like Jamal Adams and while he will hit people and can be physical, he doesn’t tackle well because he seems allergic to wrapping up.
Where have you read that before?
Clearly safety is the biggest hole on the Bucs defense. Anyone who suggests otherwise was at the bar too long. However, is Delpit that alpha dog at safety craved by Bucco Bruce Arians?
Joe isn’t so sure.
March 11th, 2020 at 9:15 am
if hes close to earl thomas cool. if not bigger needs for a young player drafted, o line, d line, pass rusher
March 11th, 2020 at 9:16 am
Not even the best safety in the class. He’s not bad just overrated. No way the Bucs draft a safety in the 1st round. I expect him to go in the late first to early 2nd.
March 11th, 2020 at 9:21 am
Having a safety allergic to wrapping up is the offensive equivalence to having a LT allergic to run blocking.
…but I got ostracized into purgatorial moderation by Joe for even suggesting it.
March 11th, 2020 at 9:21 am
Wouldn’t hurt my feelings one bit, but they better use that 4th to move up and grab OL
March 11th, 2020 at 9:25 am
I know he had some nagging injuries this year. Those might have slowed him a bit, but it might be more.
I was leaning in his direction for quite a while but now think McKinney or Duggar might be better.
March 11th, 2020 at 9:41 am
How can you be an Alpha Dog and not tackle….is that the same as Ndog defending Jamyth ?
March 11th, 2020 at 9:46 am
There are plenty of veteran free safetys on the market this year, lets go get onone there. Doesnt have to be a guy making 10 million a season but Tre Boston would be a huge upgrade, someone of his caliber would be fantastic and we have the money to do so.
March 11th, 2020 at 9:55 am
I would be on board with a safety but not at 14, maybe a trade down or two if one of the top 4 o lineman not there, edge rusher or d tackle. Trenches on defense made the difference so fix that on either side of the ball first is what I’m thinking
March 11th, 2020 at 10:06 am
O-LINE @ #14
March 11th, 2020 at 10:16 am
it’s not the biggest hole, today. How many defensive lineman are signed? Outside Linebackers? Right Tackle? QB!?! Whitehead, Edwards and an injured Evans and Dixon are on the team. NOT A PRIORITY…
March 11th, 2020 at 10:20 am
No flippin way on Delpit; he may stay in top 20 of draft only because this is a pass happy league and he has range but he is a lazy me-first player and that was evident all year as the draft “gurus” kept driving him up the chart and he started counting his chickens. He will be another matt elam.
March 11th, 2020 at 10:20 am
I don’t think he’s the best safety. McKinney from Alabama is.
They should trade back and get an extra 2nd round pick. If they are at say #21, they should grab a stud OT like Josh Jones or even a WR like Justin Jefferson.
Safeties are a dime a dozen.
March 11th, 2020 at 10:27 am
OT/, RB, S our our biggest needs right now. QB is a whole other situation.
Delpit (gives to much cushion as one of his negatives) is rated second to McKinney from ALa. both 1st Rnd projections and a steep drop off after that.
If one of the Top 5 OT’s is there at 14 you take him. Lots of area to trade and get a few 2nd rounders to include a solid RB,…. so RB/DL or RB/S in the second could be possible.
March 11th, 2020 at 10:56 am
I think this guy falls, like Greedy Williams did last year. Too many questions about him.
Maybe we could fit Anthony Harris or Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in the budget.
March 11th, 2020 at 10:59 am
Evolving: I’d like to see one of the top 4 Tackles there for us at 14, maybe get a good RB in the 2nd or 3rd. Set our QB (Jameis or otherwise) up for success with a nice running game.
March 11th, 2020 at 11:09 am
No on Ashtyn Davis, too (same college, same build, same questions as the guy he’s been compared to: Chris Conte).
March 11th, 2020 at 11:09 am
Been preaching Delpit at #14 for weeks. Put him in Bowles defense along with the young linebackers (well at least White) and corners and now we’re cooking with gas.
March 11th, 2020 at 11:16 am
Nope. Unless we sign Bulaga or Conklin in FA our first pick will be an OT. If all the OTs are gone I would go with DT Kinkaw.
March 11th, 2020 at 11:17 am
Hell no. Maybe in the second or third. Kinlaw or one of top 4 offensive tackles.
March 11th, 2020 at 11:18 am
As an LSU fan who watch majority of their game last year, Delpit was great and an important part to winning the National Championship. Opponent rarely completed deep ball in his area. Plus, I believe the evaluation on Delpit is completely off. He plays in the box similar to John Lynch. Rarely missed a tackle this past year. He is a solid player that I’ll be cool with having on the team. Though I would prefer a offensive tackle or an outside linebackers with 3-4 experience.
March 11th, 2020 at 11:37 am
It depends how free agency plays out. Say we sign Jack Conklin from Tennessee then I have no problem drafting him. Delpit is the best defensive player in this draft as far as secondary is concerned.
March 11th, 2020 at 11:38 am
kinlaw all day and twice on sunday…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 11th, 2020 at 11:39 am
Just blows my mind that someone/anyone would post O-Line @ #14.
Like it’s truly up to the Bucs????
I mean would you take Josh Jones @ 14? Austin Jackson?
It’s starting to look like none of the Big 4 will be there!!!
If we draft for NEED only then this team hasn’t changed a bit.
Would flat out be ignorant and border line Malpractice to draft an O lineman at #14 if the Big 4 are gone.
I would rather draft Henry Ruggs at #14 than any other OL.
Trade back or Javon Kinlaw are the only 2 viable options IMO, if that happens.
March 11th, 2020 at 11:40 am
Hard pass on Delpit. My dream draft would be Jedrick Wills in the 1st. Edwards-Helaire in the 2nd. Then we use our 3rd and comp pick to get back into the 2nd and draft Kyle Dugger. That fixes 3 major holes with true game changers. If we can resign our defensive players and add these 3 guys…watch out.
March 11th, 2020 at 11:42 am
Joe in Michigan: i definitely agree man, we’ll get a better picture after seeing how free agency shakes out.
March 11th, 2020 at 11:44 am
#1. Love, Kinlaw or OT
2. DL-RB-RT-QB
3. DL-RB-RT-QB
March 11th, 2020 at 12:30 pm
Never saw this guy until the national championship game and I was very underwhelmed. Won’t hold that one game against him if we do draft him but based on that one sample game I do not see it.
But I do think Safety is very much on the table for us at #14. Bowles defense seems to be a perfect fit for this position. A safety could truely be the most impactful player we could possibly draft at #14. Only question is if there is a guy the Bucs rate high enough to grab at 14. If not maybe you can find somebody in Round 2-3 with a lot of potential.
For this reason I wish to see the Bucs address RT and RB when the free agency dinner bell rings(I miss that phrase Joe). Open our options.
March 11th, 2020 at 12:30 pm
No Way at 14… maybe if trade down but even then we need OL so much more.
March 11th, 2020 at 1:04 pm
Bio sounds eerily similar to Morris Claiborne….
March 11th, 2020 at 3:55 pm
I’m willing to take any defender from LSU at this point
March 11th, 2020 at 5:39 pm
I’d love a playmaking safety in the first round
March 11th, 2020 at 6:31 pm
dude, grab a freaking vet safety and use the draft for the trenches!!! its time we get younger up front!!!!!
March 11th, 2020 at 7:32 pm
Played college ball at LSU? I’ll take him. I don’t even like LSU but that school produces filthy defensive players.