Mansoor Delane became the latest former LSU defensive back to be picked in the top-10 over the weekend, going No. 6 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.
With Delane now in the professional ranks, the Tigers will need a new lockdown corner for the 2026 season. On Monday, ESPN published a story identifying replacements for all 32 first-round picks in the 2026 draft.
Delane’s replacement is expected to be DJ Pickett, who saw a fair amount of playing time last season as a true freshman. He totaled 37 tackles, 3 interception and 3 pass deflections for an LSU secondary that finished the year ranked in the top-25 in pass defense efficiency rating.
Pickett seems primed to slot into a No. 1 cornerback role this fall. Here’s some analysis on what LSU fans can expect from Pickett in 2026 from ESPN’s Andrea Adelson:
Delane was a terrific player at Virginia Tech, but he took it to another level in his one season at LSU, earning unanimous All-America honors after recording 45 tackles, 13 passes defended, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions. In 358 pass coverage snaps, Delane allowed only 13 receptions all season for 147 yards and six first downs. But the cupboard is not bare at LSU. DJ Pickett returns after a freshman All-American season, where he led the team with three interceptions and played 524 defensive snaps. At 6-foot-5, Pickett is an imposing presence in the defensive backfield and has the potential to cause as many — if not more problems — than Delane did for opposing receivers
This selection will not be a surprise for longtime LSU fans. Pickett was a 5-star signee in the class of 2025 who has been committed to the Tigers since the summer of 2024. He’s long been thought of as an elite cornerback prospect and someone who could make a big impact in Baton Rouge.
Pickett will be a big part of LSU’s College Football Playoff aspirations in 2026. Here are the latest CFP odds on Kalshi:
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
