2020 NFL Draft: Browns keep adding potential starters from LSU

The Browns added two more potential starters from LSU in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Cleveland Browns went to the SEC pool early and often in the 2020 NFL Draft, and came away with a pair of very intriguing potential starters on defense from the reigning National Champion LSU Tigers on day two.

Just one year after selecting LSU cornerback Greedy Williams in the second round (their top pick) of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Browns went back to that LSU defense again and selected safety Grant Delpit and linebacker Jacob Phillips, two players who could have a substantial impact on their defense this season.

The Browns actually had four selections in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft, and every single one of them was used on an SEC player — three on defense.

Cleveland Browns 2020 NFL Draft class

• OT Jedrick Wills, Alabama
• S Grant Delpit, LSU
• DL Jordan Elliott, Missouri
• LB Jacob Phillips, LSU
• TE Harrison Bryant, Florida Atlantic
• C Nick Harris, Washington
• WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michigan

The Browns did a good job of coming away with value at seemingly every slot they selected, including the first round with Jedrick Wills surprisingly still on the board at number 10 overall for them.

While Wills is a surefire starter from this class, I want to take a look at the two LSU players, which could be the second and third rookie starters from this particular class.

Grant Delpit, Safety

Grant Delpit was dinged throughout the 2019 season at LSU for his tackling, or lack thereof.

Delpit carried a ton of hype into the 2019 season after starting his first two years at LSU and picking off five passes in 2018 as a sophomore. Not only did he pick off five passes as a sophomore, but Delpit also had 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. He was a big-time weapon for the LSU defense, but as is always the case, NFL talent evaluators and scouts like to make sure you’re the real deal and poke holes in your game when you’re not the latest, greatest thing.

Delpit still showed solid versatility in 2019 as a blitzer and playing around the line of scrimmage, making 4.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and notching another pair of sacks, but his interception total dipped from five to two.

Still, this is a guy who is exceptional at reading the back end of the field and making plays on the ball. He had 32 passes defended in 40 games at LSU.

Cleveland signed Karl Joseph to be the more ‘physical’ of their two safeties, but Delpit should have an immediate role in Cleveland roaming around the back end of the secondary with his former teammate Greedy Williams.

Jacob Phillips, Linebacker

Not only will Delpit be joined on the back end by Williams, but he could also be joined by the leading tackler of last year’s Championship defense at LSU, Jacob Phillips.

Phillips didn’t receive anywhere near the fanfare of some of his teammates like Devin White (2019) or Patrick Queen (2020) who were both first-round picks.

Even though his 4.66 in the 40-yard dash doesn’t indicate he has the kind of speed we see from White and Queen, Phillips has some really explosive traits at 6-foot-3, 229 pounds.

Even with a 4.66, Phillips’ speed is solidly above average for the linebacker position and he also has rare explosive traits with his broad jump and vertical jump being above the 91st percentile.

Phillips needs work in coverage overall, but he is instinctive and flies to the football in the running game.

There will be competition between Phillips and 2019 third-round pick Sione Takitaki for the starting inside linebacker position alongside Mack Wilson, but Phillips stands a pretty good chance considering the front office and coaching personnel changes this year in conjunction with his selection.

Clearly, new defensive coordinator Joe Woods felt that Phillips could be a fit for his base defense.