LSU’s Mansoor Delane selected by Chiefs, first SEC player taken in 2026 NFL Draft
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
LSU cornerback Mansour Delane will be joining Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City.
Delane became the first SEC player selected in the 2026 NFL Draft as the Chiefs moved up to take him No. 6 overall. The Cleveland Browns received KC’s ninth overall pick in return, as well as the Chiefs’ 74th (third round) and 148th (fifth round).
Delane started his career at Virginia Tech and was a third-team All-ACC selection for the Hokies in 2024 before transferring to LSU. During his lone season in Baton Rouge, he stood out as one of the top shutdown corners in the country. His 11 passes defensed were the catalyst for him being named first-team All-SEC and landing first-team All-American accolades.
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Chiefs general manager Brett Leach was clearly impressed with what Delane could bring to the KC backfield, moving up to take the Silver Spring, Md., product. It was a position of need for the Chiefs after trading Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in March.
Kansas City, meanwhile, will look to bounce back from a massively disappointing season, one that was capped by Mahomes suffering a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee in Week 15. The Chiefs finished 6-11, missing the postseason for the first time in the Mahomes era and for the first time since 2014.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
