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Here’s a potential curve ball for the New Orleans Saints strategy in the 2020 NFL Draft: LSU Tigers safety Grant Delpit, last year’s Jim Thorpe Award winner. Delpit started all three of his years in Death Valley, finishing his Tigers career with 199 total tackles (17.5 for loss of yards), 8 interceptions (24 total passes defensed), 7 sacks, and a pair of forced fumbles as well as a pair of fumble recoveries. He was one of the high-impact defenders on LSU’s National Championship-winning defense, and is perceived as a potential first-round draft pick.
And per a report from The Athletic’s Larry Holder, Delpit was one of 40-plus players the Saints formally met with at this year’s combine (teams are allowed 45 such interviews, but event logistics mean they don’t always meet that limit). While wide receiver is the popular pick for the Saints’ most-pressing roster need this offseason, safety can’t be overlooked.
Strong safety Vonn Bell is headed for free agency in just a few short weeks, while his partner at free safety, Marcus Williams, will test the open market next year. The Saints nailed last year’s fourth-round pick of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and he figures to be the immediate replacement of Bell should the fourth-year pro leave for greener pastures. But it makes sense for the Saints to target someone like Delpit if they want a long-term fix at the position.
That said: the Saints must spend the time between now and April 23’s draft deciding whether Delpit (or another prospect) would really be an answer. He’s struggled with missed tackles throughout his college career, bottoming out with four tackles missed against two tackles made in last year’s game against Alabama, per Pro Football Focus. Delpit did clean up his technique down the stretch, making every tackle he attempted in the final three games versus Georgia, Oklahoma, and Clemson, but it’s still something worth noting.
Of course, this is all probably moot if the Saints hammer out a new deal with Bell before free agency. Holder’s report adds that the Saints have interest in re-signing him, but that the Saints have a firm number in mind once negotiations begin. There’s a few factors to remember here — Bell finished the 2019 season as the NFL’s leader in fumble recoveries, he recently hired a new agent, and teammates like Marcus Williams play a much more prestigious position. Odds are strong that Bell’s new representatives could envision better opportunities on the open market, rather than what the Saints are able to offer. And that could shake up their entire offseason strategy.
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