Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons is a player that the Philadelphia Eagles should consider with their first 2 picks in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Philadelphia Eagles, like the 31 other NFL teams around the league were keeping a keen eye on LSU’s 42-25 victory over Clemson in Monday night’s National Championship game.
With several of the stars from Monday night’s contest set to enter the NFL, there are guys who could provide Philadelphia with star-power, versatility and dynamic players in the first 60 picks.
The Eagles need a game-changing wide receiver, cornerback, safety help and a litany of other holes to fill.
With Clemson and LSU providing some of the top players transitioning from college to the NFL in recent years, here are 7 participants from the National Championship game that the Eagles could target in the first two rounds of the 2020 NFL draft.
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1. Justin Jefferson — WR — LSU
The Eagles can use an explosive playmaker on the outside and Justin Jefferson is a huge reason that Joe Burrow will be the No. 1 pick. Jefferson can run every route, he creates big plays and his explosiveness would put the Eagles offense on another level.
Against the Clemson Tigers on Monday night, Jefferson had 9 catches for 106 yards, including this video game style move that left one Clemson defender on shaky ground.
Here are a few of the top prospects that could help the Bears to watch in Monday’s National Championship Game between LSU and Clemson.
All eyes will be glued to Monday night’s National Championship Game, where the LSU Tigers and Clemson Tigers will battle for the collegiate championship glory.
There will be plenty of scouts in attendance, and the Bears have plenty of needs they need to address this offseason. Monday night’s game will feature some of the best prospects heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.
Here are a few of the top prospects that could help the Bears to watch courtesy of Draft Wire:
EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson
LSU
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
With Leonard Floyd’s future in question, Chicago needs an edge rusher that can thrive opposite Khalil Mack. Chaisson’s explosiveness coming off the weakside is something that should make him an attractive option for teams.
In 2019, Chaisson had 58 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and one forced fumble. His freakish athleticism and natural ability shows he can be effective as a speed rusher off the edge.
2020 NFL draft: Top prospects to watch in National Championship Game
On Monday night, the eyes of the college and NFL world will be on the Louisiana Superdome as LSU and Clemson battle for the College Football National Championship.
There will be plenty NFL scouts in attendance and with the Eagles have several needs, Monday night will be a prime opportunity to scout some of college football best athletes.
The Eagles can use an explosive playmaker on the outside and Justin Jefferson is a huge reason that Joe Burrow will be the No. 1 pick. Jefferson can run every route, he creates big plays and his explosiveness would put the Eagles offense on another level.
See who CBS Sports draft analysts think would be a perfect fit for Tampa Bay’s young defense.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended their season with a record of 7-9, meaning they now hold the No. 14 pick in April’s NFL draft. Earlier in the season, when the Bucs were 3-7 and looked to be going nowhere fast, it seemed as though the team would end up in a desirable position to draft a quarterback if they ultimately decided to move on from Jameis Winston.
And, while nothing is set in stone yet, it appears as though Winston will get at least one more year to prove himself under Bruce Arians. So, with quarterback seemingly off the board in terms of first-round priorities, where should the Bucs turn their focus?
Some mock drafts have the Bucs looking to add even more young talent to their defense, with Javon Kinlaw of South Carolina a possible option. But, in their latest mock draft, CBS Sports has one of Devin White’s former LSU teammates joining the Buccaneers in safety Grant Delpit.
Here’s what they said about the possible selection:
“The young Buccaneers cornerbacks played much better down the stretch. The safety spot needs help. Delpit is a towering presence and a playmaker in coverage.”
Tampa Bay’s defense came on strong in the second half of the season (White especially), so adding size and speed at the safety position would give the Bucs another building block for their young defense.
Plus, White would get to reunite with an old college buddy! That might be too good an opportunity to pass up.
LSU linebacker Patrick Queen did not hold back when asked about the Sooners’ offense.
“[The] O-line’s not great, running backs aren’t great but they still make it work,” Queen told reporters at Thursday’s Peach Bowl media days.
Queen said that the Tigers’ goal is to get the ball out of Hurts’ hands and force others to make plays.
“Jalen Hurts is a great quarterback,” Queen said.
“I feel like our defense will make plays in space. I feel like with this gameplan we got we’re gonna dominate them, I feel very confident in what we got.”
LSU is No. 32 in total defense while Oklahoma is No. 25. Both the Tigers and Sooners have the two most lethal offenses in the country as No. 1 and No. 2 in the country, respectively.
The Sooners “make it work” by putting up two fewer yards than LSU (7,205) on 41 fewer plays (884) for an average of 8.15 yards per play and average 554.4 yards per game, just two-tenths of a yard less than the Tigers.
Oklahoma and LSU kickoff Saturday, Dec. 28 at 3p.m. CT on ESPN.
In his 2020 NFL mock draft 1.0, ESPN’s Todd McShay predicts the Broncos will select LSU safety Grant Delpit in the first round.
Todd McShay’s 2020 NFL mock draft 1.0 for ESPN has the Denver Broncos selecting LSU safety Grant Delpit in the first round (subscription required for link). In McShay’s mock, Georiga offensive tackle Andrew Thomas goes off the board to the New York Jets at No. 7 before Denver picks at No. 12.
One could argue that offensive tackle is one of the Broncos’ biggest needs this offseason but McShay noted that safety Justin Simmons and cornerback Chris Harris are both set to become free agents in 2020. McShay apparently hasn’t taken into consideration that the team has been hinting that Simmons will get a contract extension.
McShay did acknowledge that safety is just a “moderate need” before pointing out that there isn’t an offensive tackle who fits at No. 12. Of course, Denver’s draft order could change between now and the end of the season.
McShay’s first mock draft last year had the Broncos selecting Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown late in the first round. His final mock draft of 2019 had Denver selecting Missouri quarterback Drew Lock. The Broncos did select Lock, but it was in the second round, not the first.
Delpit wins getting off the bus. He has the size you want at safety with the ability to make an immediate impact.
With most defensive backs in the NFL being sub 6’1″, Delpit stands above that. He has the physical profile to make an impact at safety in the NFL. With some physical runners and pass catchers he won’t be a player who backs down in the defensive backfield.
To be a safety at the next level, you need to come downhill quickly. Delpit shows the ability to click and close from a variety of spots on the field. His quick reaction doesn’t allowing ball carriers the ability to make many explosive plays when he is patrolling the middle of the field. Range isn’t a question for Delpit.
He can rush the passer with great success on blitzes around the edge. He flies to the quarterback, as Delpit showed in the SEC Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs. Despite the lower numbers than a season ago, Delpit can create turnovers with his ball skills.
Weaknesses
Delpit is one of the best all-around safeties in this class, but if there is one area above others that he needs to improve it is as a tackler. Delpit can get caught up trying to be an arm tackler instead of sizing up a ball carrier and exploding through him. He has the physical profile and needs to use that size and frame as an advantage.
Technique is where Delpit needs to focus at the next level. Not only with tackling but in coverage. He won’t have trouble picking up the ball in zone coverage but when trying to locate the ball in turn and run coverage, he at times can get beat.
He will need to work on disengaging from blocks as well at the next level. To be one of the top safeties at the next level, Delpit will need to get off his blocks at a more consistent rate.
Bottom Line
Grant Delpit will most likely be the first safety off the board come April. He didn’t have the best year following up his 2018 campaign that put him on the map. Hampered by injuries, his 2019 season alone shouldn’t be a reason to lower him on many draft boards.
Previewing Saturday’s Texas A&M at LSU college football matchup, with NCAA football betting odds, picks and best bets
The Texas A&M Aggies (7-4, 4-3) will head to Death Valley in Baton Rouge, La., for a meeting with the second-ranked LSU Tigers (11-0, 7-0) on Saturday night. The SEC matchup will kick off at 7 p.m. ET from Tiger Stadium.
We analyze the Texas A&M-LSU odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.
Texas A&M at LSU: Three things you need to know
1. The Tigers rank third in the country in scoring and second in passing yards this season, and the Texas A&M defense ranks tied for 25th and 22nd in each defensive category, respectively.
2. LSU safety Grant Delpit is expected to play after missing last week’s game against Arkansas with an ankle injury. OT Saahdiq Charles is also expected to return — and start — after being held out the last two games and six overall for “coach’s decisions.”
3. The Aggies had won four straight games before losing at Georgia last week 19-13. They scored at least 24 points in each of their previous six games.
Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!
The Tigers have been the best team in the country all season and they’re not going to trip up this late in the season. They will win this game by at least two touchdowns, which is why the moneyline of -770 for LSU is so steep.
It’s not worth putting any money down on this one for either team to win straight up, and you’d be better off going against the spread. The Tigers never lose at home in night games, but the low return on LSU isn’t worth the risk.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on LSU to win would return a profit of $1.30.
LSU is a 16.5-point home favorite. Death Valley is going to be rocking, as it always is for night games. The Tigers are 5-2 ATS vs. teams with a winning record, but they’ve only covered the spread in one of their last five home games.
The Aggies upset LSU last season 74-72 in a wild 7 OT shootout, and they’ll at least keep this one relatively close. Bet TEXAS A&M (+16.5, -106) to cover the spread.
The over/under of 61.5 is pretty high, but both offenses are playing well right now. LSU’s defense hasn’t been great in recent weeks, either, so the Aggies will be able to score. The total has gone over in 11 of the Tigers’ last 14 games and is 4-0-1 in LSU’s last five November games.
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We checked in with The Draft Network’s Jonah Tuls on his latest mock, where he sends a certain SEC safety the #Cowboys way.
The Dallas Cowboys’ safety issue has been on full display the last couple of weeks. Really, it’s been all year. Really, it’s been a couple of years. There’s no question that Xavier Woods is a keeper and over the last several games has started to put forth the type of performance predicted for him from way back in January. The other safety position? Whew, that’s been a problem.
Jeff Heath has been bad, really bad, but for Cowboys fans who thought it couldn’t get worse, it actually did when Darian Thompson stepped in for an injured Heath against the Detroit Lions. Backup quarterback Jeff Driskel targeted Thompson on almost every big passing play the Lions had. The Cowboys need an upgrade, and they will likely have to wait until April’s draft to do so, considering they may still not want to spend at the position.
Draft analyst Jonah Tuls may have a solution for that.
In his latest 2020 mock for The Draft Network, Tuls assigns the Cowboys a potential star safety from the SEC; one Grant Delpit of LSU.
Now, Cowboys fans will probably still be hopeful the team can work out a trade with the New York Jets for another LSU safety, Jamal Adams. The two sides talked before the trade deadline but the Jets were asking for far more than Dallas was willing to give. If that continues to be the case and Dallas still has their first rounder come draft weekend, Tuls sees Delpit as being a great addition for the Cowboys.
Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
Cowboys Wire caught up with our former contributor to pick his brain on Delpit and some other things surrounding the Cowboys and the upcoming 2020 draft.
Cowboys Wire: You mocked LSU super safety Grant Delpit to the Cowboys in your latest mock for The Draft Network. Talk to us about what he brings to the table the Cowboys would like, and what are some question marks where he’ll need to improve in the pro game.
Jonah Tuls: Grant Delpit provides something the Cowboys haven’t had at the safety position in over a decade — elite playmaking ability. With his combination of sideline to sideline range and short-area quickness, he is ready to make an impact in both man and zone coverage. The Cowboys haven’t had a difference-making cover safety in years, and Delpit would be a perfect fit for Kris Richard’s attacking defense.
The biggest question mark with Delpit’s game is his finishing consistency in the open field. He plays super aggressive as a run defender, and that often works to his detriment. His playmaking prowess will likely overshadow this flaw in the draft process, but changing speeds as a tackler is something he needs to take care of.
CW: Let’s assume Dallas makes the playoffs and do draft in the 20s like you have them. Who are some of the other players you have mocked in the first round that you feel would be good fits for the Cowboys and where they are lacking right now.
Tuls: Other positions of interest for the Cowboys in the first round are defensive tackle and cornerback. Two players come to mind here — South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw and Alabama CB Trevon Diggs.
Kinlaw is an athletic freak as an interior pass rusher who can play on all three downs as either a one or three technique. I get the feeling he will be long gone by the time Dallas picks, but he fits right up the alley of what this front office looks for in a defensive tackle.
Diggs is the prototypical Kris Richard cornerback. It is rare to find 6’2 boundary players who can move, stay in phase in man coverage, and find the ball as well as Diggs does. With all the free agency questions surrounding this position for the team, I think this could be the year where Richard finally gets his guy at cornerback in the early rounds.
CW: Outside of those names, who are some other players you think could be good fits for the Cowboys and go between picks 20 and 60? I think we’re likely looking at a need to replace Randall Cobb in the slot, Jeff Heath at safety (though I still love Donovan Wilson).
Can you give us a quick preview of who could fill those holes in that range?
Tuls: There are a ton of slot wide receivers in this draft class that will be in the Day 2 range. If you’re looking for players who can stretch the field with their speed, similar to Mecole Hardman from last year, look no further than Penn State’s KJ Hamler and Texas’ Devin Duvernay. I know Dallas was interested in Hardman last year, so it would make sense for this team to go back to that archetype next April.
If the Cowboys wait to address safety on Day 2, some names to keep in mind are Texas’ Brandon Jones and Cal’s Ashtyn Davis. Both players fit the mold of what this front office looks for, in terms of their physical profiles. Jones and Davis are interchangeable safety prospects who have range, athleticism, and run support production.
