It’s never easy being "the guy after the guy," but Oscar Delp stepped into the vacuum left by Brock Bowers and provedn he’s a Sunday player in his own right and tough as hell. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 245 pounds, Delp is the classic hybrid tight end that NFL offensive coordinators are currently obsessed with.
He’s not just a big-boy blocker though. Delp has shown he’s a legitimate vertical threat who can split out wide or find the soft spot in a zone. He averaged 13.1 yards per catch last year, which is better than Bowers' last season at UGA (12.4 yds per catch). Delp was underutilized at Georgia, so he didn't get near as much hype as Bowers did in their championship seasons.
But NFL organizations are still taking notice.
Not a freak of nature, but solid as a tight end
Scouts have noted his improved play strength in the run game, but his calling card remains his soft hands and polished route-running. Delp might not have the "freak of nature" labels some of his predecessors carried, he’s a high-floor prospect with a Day 2 grade. Expect a team like the Bengals or the Chiefs to jump on him in the third round to add a reliable, versatile weapon to their 12-personnel packages.
It would be wild to have Delp and Bowers on the same team with the Raiders, but it will be better for Delp's career for him to carve out his own niche in the NFL. He no longer needs to stay in the shadow of Bowers, or anyone anymore. He's done more than enough to establish his own greatness and NFL GMs would do well to draft him sooner than later, or they will miss out on consistent play for several years.
Bulldog fans should tune in for the whole NFL draft and see where Delp lands as well as their own Georgia favorites.
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