The NFL Draft is less than one month away, and the Kansas City Chiefs
have been busy meeting with the top prospects in this year’s draft class.Last week, it was reported that Georgia tight end Oscar Delp had Kansas City on his schedule for a visit.
A four-year player for the Bulldogs, Delp was on the 2022 National Championship team and backed up current Las Vegas Raiders standout tight end Brock Bowers.
Delp’s career production was not tremendous, but he is an athletic prospect with a physical streak
and tremendous potential.
Background
A native of Cumming Georgia, Delp signed with the Bulldogs as a four-star recruit and the No. 1 tight end in the 2022 class. He proved to be a versatile player over his time with Georgia, capable of lining up all over the field
He didn’t earn many accolades during his time, but that hardly tells who he is as a player. At the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month, Delp tested well and presented a good athletic profile.
Delp is a little undersized for a classic tight end, but at over 6 feet 4 inches tall and 245 pounds, he ran a 4.49 40-yard dash and recorded an explosive vertical jump of 38 inches.
Delp’s testing numbers are great, but his tape shows a player with multiple skills who will be a versatile asset in the NFL.
A look at the tape
With a career-high mark of 284 receicing yards, Delp’s collegiate numbers won’t blow anyone away, but this does not speak to his ability as a pass catcher at Georgia.
While his route running and ability to create separation one-on-one need work, he is a zone beater and a yard after catch machine.
Delp will excel right away, looks like mesh, or other crossing concepts that allow him to utilize his natural speed in space, and then work to run after he catches the ball.
This athletic ability and explosion could also give him the potential to create big plays.
With less than 1,000 receiving yards, Delp’s largest issue in college was that his ultra-talented teammates often garnered more looks and touches than him, since they were also top-of-the-line players.
A selfless player, he did not let his lack of production weigh on him, instead finding other ways to help his team.
Despite being undersized, Delp played like his school’s mascot when it came to inline blocking, but this is just the start of where his ability to get physical helped his game.
Delp’s versatility as a player allowed him to line up as an in-line tight end, in the slot, in the wing as an H-back, and his ability could even transfer to being able to play fullback in the NFL.
The reason that he can work in all of those spots is his ability to block and do the dirty work needed to win in the NFL
He has the strength and power to block defensive ends and other edge defenders, while his movement abilities allow him to match defensive backs in space and help create plays along the perimeter.
Delp has the potential to develop into a quality receiving tight end in the NFL and be an overall quality player, but his game starts with his willingness to do dirty work and compete at a physical level.
How he fits with the Chiefs
Delp has vast amounts of potential, and a team like the Chiefs could use his skillset right away. While future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce will officially be back for perhaps his last season in the NFL, the Chiefs struggled to find consistency at the position behind the all-time player, and this is where Delp could step in and make an immediate impact.
With his versatility and ability to block, the Chiefs would have someone to spell Kelce on certain snaps, while also working to become a more established player in the passing game.
His short-area burst and ability to run in space would have head coach Andy Reid and Kansas City’s offensive coaching staff licking its chops at the play action and options for underneath routes he could provide, and his presence would also signify the Chiefs’ desire to continue to run the football.
Kansas City made a large investment signing running back Kenneth Walker in free agency, and the Chiefs should be in the market to continue to add players to their roster who can contribute as run blockers, and would make sense in heavier personnel sets.
Not only can Delp provide a plus with his run blocking, but his ability to pass block could be of use to Kansas City if the team chooses to go with heavier protection looks, attempting to ensure quarterback Patrick Mahomes is comfortable in the pocket as he comes back from the knee injury.
The bottom line
There are multiple avenues for players to find success in the NFL, and Delp has a good shot to play at the pro level for a long time.
All players have different paths to successful careers in the NFL, and Delp will have to continue to do the little things well to prove his worth on whatever team he ends up playing for.
He won’t be the next Travis Kelce, but if drafted by the Chiefs, he can carve out his own path to becoming a difference maker.
