The Kansas City Chiefs picked LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with the sixth overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Chiefs, who held the ninth pick, traded up with the Cleveland Browns.
Delane spent one season at LSU, where he had 2 interceptions and 11 passes deafened in 11 starts.
NFL.com analysis about Delane:
Overview
Delane is one of the top cornerbacks in a CB-rich draft. He excels in press coverage, altering release timing with punches and slides. Smooth hips and efficient footwork keep him connected in man coverage, while his processing allows for quick transitions in off-man and short zone looks. He has good top-end speed for vertical phasing but is inconsistent turning to find the football. While he locks in on the route at times, he’s rarely oblivious to the quarterback’s actions, allowing him to slam catch windows shut and play the football. He played through a core muscle injury for much of the 2025 season and still performed at an elite level. Delane’s emergence over the past two years might be indicative of what’s to come, as he’s shown lockdown potential.
Strengths
- Loose-limbed, highly athletic and efficient in his movements.
- Throws jabs and slides feet to cut off release from press.
- Gets hands on the route quickly and flows tightly to the route.
- Anticipates breaks from off coverage and pounces to erase separation space.
- Tracks quarterback without losing route awareness in zone coverage.
- Makes sharp overlaps to play the throw from deep zone drops.
- Smothers the catch point like a dominant shot blocker.
- Full-contact thumper ready to jar the ball loose.
- Engulfs and wraps up pass-catchers to quickly end the play.
Weaknesses
- Plays tall in space, limiting transition quickness at times.
- Can be baited by clever route combinations in deep zone.
- Aggressive hand usage to redirect, which will bring flags.
- Needs to become more consistent in locating deep throws.
- Can be tardy breaking down as an open-field tackler.
READ MORE:Chiefs taking local product Mansoor Delane with sixth overall in 2026 NFL Draft
