CLEVELAND — Just prior to kickoff of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, news broke of the Browns locking up a key member of their secondary.
The announcement was made official on Monday, with Cleveland and safety Grant Delpit in agreement on a three-year contract extension through 2026. The Orange and Brown Report's Brad Stainbrook was the first to report the news, adding that the deal is worth an estimated $36 million with just over $23 million guaranteed.
"I'm excited to further my career in Cleveland," Delpit said in a statement. "The city has shown me nothing but love since the day I was drafted. The Haslams, [general manager Andrew Berry], all of my coaches and teammates, I can't say enough good things about everyone and the environment since I've been here. I look forward to continuing this winning culture and showing the city of Cleveland the love back that they give me."
Delpit, currently in the fourth and final year of his rookie deal, has had a bit of an up-and-down career since being drafted in 2020. Notably, he missed what was supposed to be his first season with a torn Achilles, and when he returned in 2021 sometimes struggled to crack the starting lineup.
But since 2022, Delpit has not missed a game while starting all but one, and in 2022 emerged in an otherwise anemic Browns defense with a team-leading 105 tackles and four interceptions. Cleveland's secondary has greatly improved this year under new coordinator Jim Schwartz, and Delpit has been in the center of it with 80 tackles and a pick along with 1 1/2 sacks and a forced fumble for good measure. Pro Football Focus currently ranks him in the upper half of NFL safeties.
Of the signing, Berry wrote:
"When we began the season, our defensive staff set the goal of leading the NFL in three categories: Physical Toughness, Effort and — most importantly — Badassery. Grant's competitive, high-energy, on-field personality is the perfect embodiment of these characteristics. To see Grant blossom into a disruptive, heat-seeking missile in the run game while maintaining the ability to match-up in man coverage has been particularly rewarding for our organization because of the adversity that defined his early career. We’ve seen his work ethic and mental toughness in full force as he battled back from an Achilles tear as a rookie, and he’s done nothing but make up for lost time since. We are happy that Grant will be a member of our team for the foreseeable future."
Depit finished Sunday's 31-27 win over the Jags with six tackles and a sack, but did have to leave the game with a groin injury. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that the team would be "getting some more clarity on that one" before providing further updates.
Delpit's extension means at least half of Cleveland's starting secondary is locked up for the foreseeable future, with Pro Bowler Denzel Ward also under contract through 2027. Cornerback and former first-round pick Greg Newsome II is also under team control as late as 2025, along with fellow corner Martin Emerson Jr.