Demetric Felton and Grant Delpit may just be the Cleveland Browns new heroes. It is still very early, but in Week 2, both stepped up in big ways just when they were needed most. It wasn’t the first time for Felton, and likely won’t be the last for either player. Felton repeated a similar performance to those of the pre-season and Delpit displayed the closing speed that garnered him a reputation as one of the best safeties in college football.
Demetric Felton and Grant Delpit Are Cleveland Browns Newest Playmakers
Felton Is Reliable
Felton, a sixth-round pick from UCLA, became a fan favorite during training camp and the preseason. It seems quite apropos that he would provide one of the league’s top highlights of Week 2 after the Browns 31-21 victory over the Houston Texans. He took a quick screen from Baker Mayfield, making multiple defenders miss, spun out of a tackle, and sprinted to the end zone on a 33-yard touchdown. The Texans played hard but Felton’s play kept them in a favorable position which lifted the Browns to victory.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Felton made one of the biggest plays on the Browns game-winning touchdown drive. He took another short screen, juking a tackler, and sprinted for an 18-yard gain. Cleveland was then able to score a few plays later with a touchdown run by Nick Chubb.
Felton is obviously a quick study and very capable but didn’t hesitate to give credit to the men around him. “Making moves once you get to the second level. I just did what my coaches taught me to do, and it worked… It was a great experience. Everybody did their job and blocked for me and I was able to get in the end zone.”
Delpit Is a Blitzer
Delpit waited a long year and a half since being selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft to make his debut. Missing the entire 2020 season with an Achilles tear, then Week 1 with an injured hamstring, he made the first snaps of his NFL career count. The Browns did well to utilize him in three safety sets alongside John Johnson III and Ronnie Harrison.
The safety made his first tackle in the second quarter, then his biggest impact was in the second half. He looked comfortable, making multiple tackles for loss against a surprisingly aggressive Texans offense. He stopped Houston quarterback Davis Mills for a three-yard loss in the third quarter, then picked up his first NFL sack on the Texans last-ditch drive near the end of the fourth quarter. Delpit was unstoppable as he blitzed around the edge and with a clean hit and got the ball loose from Mills. The Texans missed a field goal attempt two plays later, and the game was over.
Despite the contributions Felton and Delpit made, there are several areas the team needs to improve on. There were clear weaknesses on both sides of the ball. One thing is certain – the Browns will not rest until they have ironed out their wrinkles.
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