There were serious concerns at the safety position heading into this season for the Green Bay Packers.
After four games, the answers they’ve received have been inconsistent.
According to advanced metrics compiled by Pro Football Focus, the Packers’ safety tandem, consisting of starters Rudy Ford and Darnell Savage, is performing roughly at league average levels.
Since this is the case, there isn’t a compelling need to upgrade.
But since the majority of the position group is set to become free agents in March 2024, the safety position will be a major area of attention for the second consecutive offseason.
Grant Delpit of the Cleveland Browns was listed by Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report on Friday, October 6, as one of a few “underrated” players who will land big contracts in the spring.
In Ballentine’s estimation, Green Bay could be one of Cleveland’s main rivals for Delpit’s services in 2024 and beyond.
Grant Delpit, a safety, has been one of the Cleveland Browns defense’s biggest winners under new coordinator Jim Schwartz.
Delpit has been utilized by Schwartz in a way that plays to his strengths.
He has made 21 tackles (with only two missed tackles) through four games, has already made one interception, and is holding opposing quarterbacks to a 28.5% passer rating when targeted.
Delpit’s contract should be up for renewal, and both parties should be interested. However, there are other safety-hungry teams that might want to take advantage of Delpit’s size and capabilities.
Five of the Green Bay Packers’ safeties are scheduled to become free agents in the upcoming offseason, so the team may be looking to add one.
The Year After Year, Grant Delpit Has Improved.
Delpit was selected by the Browns in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, going to him with the No. Delpit is currently in the final year of a four-year, $7.55 million rookie contract. 44 in total).
After tearing his Achilles tendon during training camp, the 25-year-old LSU product missed his first season.
Although only a part-time starter, he appeared in 15 games in 2021.
Delpit emerged last year, finishing the year with 105 tackles, 10 pass breakups, and 4 interceptions.
Delpit’s trajectory is advantageous for his impending contract talks because he is off to the best start of his four-year NFL career.
Grant Delpit is a safety in the Deep 2024 Free Agent Class.
Delpit is not yet a “household name,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, but even with a strong free agent class at safety in 2024, he should still land a quality contract.
Delpit has improved his profile over the first month with his range thanks to Schwartz’s defense, who has brought out the best in him. Delpit occasionally had difficulties with misunderstandings on the back end in 2022, but he’s thriving this year.
This safety group is stacked, but Delpit has recently boosted his standing, despite some evaluators wanting to see a more reliable tackler.
The starting annual salary for one of the league’s top 10 safety positions is $13 million.
Delpit might not reach that number given the strength of the free agent class.
But if Green Bay wants to sign him or any of the other top free agents next spring, a deal will probably need to be worth at least $10 million a year.