With the 2021 NFL Draft coming up at the end of the month, the focus is on who will be the next big stars of the league.
The NFL Draft is like a lottery so it is anyone’s guess who will emerge as the superstar.
No one would have predicted Tom Brady, the 6th round 199th pick of the 2000 NFL Draft, to become the GOAT.
With that in mind, let’s focus on young players already in the NFL and predict which two could have breakout years that vault them to superstardom.
Grant Delpit – Safety, Cleveland Browns
Delpit was an LSU product drafted by the Browns in the second round in 2020 (44th overall).
LSU Safety Grant Delpit (@realgrantdelpit) Highlights
Delpit has been one of the best defensive players in the country since his 1st game as a Freshman. Opposing teams need to make sure they know where he is at all times #GeauxTigers
Full Video 🎥: https://t.co/yOPJ6OGJmL pic.twitter.com/kXmdmw9hjv
— JustBombsProductions (@JBP_Official) October 27, 2019
He was projected to be a fixture in the Browns defense, but he suffered a season-ending injury in training camp.
Delpit tore his Achilles tendon which required surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
Expectations are high that Delpit will be ready to go for the 2021 training camp because he remained involved with the team despite not being on the field last season.
Coach Stefanski talked about Delpit last October.
“He is doing great. He is attacking his rehab. He is staying into it. I think very highly of the kid. I know the coaches that are working with him, the strength coaches that are working with him, all the trainers and all of them report that he is full speed ahead on his rehab…Some guys learn from doing. Some guys learn from listening and being on the board. I think Grant is a very conscientious kid. He is making sure that this year he is still spending a lot of time and a lot of energy to understand the scheme and understand his role so when he hits the ground running, he is ready to go.”
Denzel Mims – Wide Receiver, New York Jets
Like Delpit, Denzel Mims was also a second-round draft pick in 2020 (59th overall).
Mims is a Texas native and played college football at Baylor.
Denzel Mims was a freak at Baylor 👁🗨pic.twitter.com/2zZMmtQZ69
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) April 5, 2021
He missed most of training camp and the start of the season with a hamstring injury.
Mims only played half of the season because of his injury.
His stats were also affected by the poor performance of the New York Jets offense.
Mims had 23 catches for 357 yards.
With a new coach in Robert Saleh and a 2021 NFL draftee as quarterback (projected to be Zach Wilson of BYU), the Jets offense could turn a corner this season with Mims being part of the success.
Mims is eager to showcase his talent now that he is healthy; he talked about the frustrations he had in 2020.
“I wanted to make a big impact for our offense. I wanted to be that go-to guy, but me having those injuries kind of set that back a little bit. I really didn’t get the chance to show them what I could do at practice. It happened late, at midseason, but I showed what I can do. I just tried to do everything I can to show I was good as a player and that I could do everything right.”
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