John Johnson III sees a little bit of everything in Grant Delpit, which is why he believes he's positioned for a breakout season in 2022.
Johnson, a sixth-year veteran safety entering his second year with the Browns, thinks Delpit's versatility as a safety who can play at all levels of the defense will help the secondary be one of the best in the league. The group certainly showed flashes of that potential toward the end of last season, when the entire defense clicked and held opponents to an average of 18.5 points in the final seven games.
Delpit played well in that stretch, registering 31 tackles in the last four games. He proved he could handle assignments as a deep safety or closer to the line of scrimmage — the kind of versatility the Browns coveted when they drafted him in the second round in 2020.
"He's one of the best, period," Johnson said Thursday before the second practice of training camp. "He's like a mixture of myself or Ronnie (Harrison Jr.). I feel like he could pretty much do everything. He can take the ball away. He's explosive. He's a good leader."
Check out photos of players and coaches working throughout camp
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Guard Dawson Deaton (52) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Safety Grant Delpit (22) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Running back Kareem Hunt (27) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Running back John Kelly (41)` during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Center Brock Hoffman (57) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Offensive tackle Alex Taylor (70) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Dale Jones during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (20) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Wide Receiver Amari Cooper (2) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Linebacker Dakota Allen (56) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Offensive tackle Drew Forbes (79) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Safety Richard LeCounte III (39) and Safety Grant Delpit (22) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Cornerback Parnell Motley (48) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Offensive Line Coach Bill Callahan during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Offensive tackle Ben Petrula (67) during the first day of the acclimation period at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 27, 2022.
Delpit snagged one interception and three pass breakups in 15 games with seven starts last year. He was one of the standout players of offseason workouts and knocked down multiple passes across OTAs and minicamp.
Now, he's set to be one of the top players of the Browns' secondary.
Defensive coordinator Joe Woods loves using three-safety sets, and Delpit will be a prime piece of those plans because of his ability to play anywhere. The three-safety sets allow the defense to disguise coverages and be flexible in assignments, and now that the group has a full year of experience and chemistry, Johnson is confident they're in for a big season.
"I think we can do pretty much anything," Johnson said. "Our safeties don't really get mixed in that top tier of safeties, so I think this is an opportunity for us to know each other, feed off each other … and be the best trio in the league."
A breakout year from Delpit could certainly help them attain that level, and Johnson is confident such a season is ahead for the 23-year-old.
"He does everything right," Johnson said. "I think he's the glue to the safety room and the (defensive backs)."
