Pro Football Rumors
Browns safety Grant Delpit attended voluntary minicamp this week, but he did not participate in practice. That led to speculation Delpit was staging a “hold-in” as an attempt to land a raise, though Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com points to a minor injury as the reason he sat out.
If Delpit is interested in landing a contract extension before a potential trip to free agency next March, it appears he will be in luck. The Browns “will undoubtedly explore” a new deal for Delpit before or during the season, per Cabot, who writes the team is “still as excited” as ever about the soon-to-be 28-year-old.
Delpit has spent his entire career in Cleveland, which drafted him in the second round in 2020. The former LSU Tiger wound up missing his entire rookie year after tearing his Achilles in training camp, but he has bounced back well since then. After coming off the bench in eight of 15 games in 2021, Delpit started in 61 of 63 appearances from 2022-25. The 6-foot-3, 208-pounder has notched a pair of 100-tackle seasons and totaled seven interceptions, including a career-high four in 2022.
Delpit contributed 89 tackles and another pick last year, his second 17-game season. He was on the field for 95.92% of defensive plays, trailing only safety partner Ronnie Hickman (98.48%). While amassing 391 snaps in the box, 271 in the slot, 227 at free safety and 96 along the defensive line, the versatile Delpit posted career highs in quarterback hits (seven), sacks (three), forced fumbles (two) and fumble recoveries (two). His performance ranked a respectable 40th among Pro Football Focus’ 91 qualifying safeties.
Thanks in part to Delpit, the Browns’ defense ranked fourth in the NFL in an otherwise bleak year for the team. The unit has since undergone a couple of massive changes. Acclaimed defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz resigned in February after the Browns hired Todd Monken instead of him as their head coach. Monken then replaced Schwartz with first-time DC Mike Rutenberg.
When Monken and Rutenberg signed up for their jobs over the winter, reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett was on the Browns’ roster. That is no longer the case, as they shipped the future Hall of Fame pass rusher to the Rams in a blockbuster trade on June 1. Although Cleveland is unlikely to compete for a playoff spot this year, Garrett’s departure is not expected to lead to a fire sale. Otherwise, players like Delpit and cornerback Denzel Ward could have been candidates to follow Garrett out the door in summer trades.
If Delpit sticks around in Cleveland on another extension, it would be his second with the franchise. Delpit is entering the last season of the three-year, $36MM accord he signed in December 2023. It was the 12th-richest deal for safeties at the time. Delpit is now just inside the top 20 in guarantees (17th; $23.61MM), total value (18th) and average annual salary (18th). His standing in those categories could improve if...
