KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach predicted Thursday night would be exciting for fans due to trade activity, and he delivered on that promise by making the night’s first trade in landing LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 6 overall.
Delane said he was on a Zoom call with Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo when he discovered Kansas City was the perfect fit for him/
“I couldn’t have asked for anything better, you know, just Spags, things I hear about him,” Delane said on a Zoom call with Kansas City reporters shortly after his selection in Thursday night. “The defense that he has, just the flexibility you can play with, and you can play ball. I think that’s what fits me best, you know, just the way I play ball, with anticipation and knowledge. I think it just fits me great.”
The Chiefs sent three picks to Cleveland in exchange for the opportunity to select Delane: No. 9 overall in the first round, a third-round selection (No. 74 overall), and a fifth-round choice (No. 148 overall).
Delane was a three-year starter at Virginia Tech before transferring to LSU for his senior season. He totalled 191 tackles in his college career, including seven for a loss. He intercepted eight passes in four seasons, with two last year for the Tigers. He posted 31 passes defended in college, delivering a collegiate-high 13 last year. He was an unanimous All-American selection last season and earned first-team All-SEC honors.
Delane will draw immediate comparisons to the cornerback he will replace in Kansas City, Trent McDuffie. Both are undersized corners — Delane measured 5-foot-11 and 3/4-inch at the Combine, while McDuffie stood 5-foot-10 and 3/4-inch. Delane weighs in at 187 pounds, while McDuffie checked in at 193 pounds. Both players make up for their size with speed and quickness, although Delane is a tick faster with a 4.38-second 40-yard time versus 4.44 speed for McDuffie.
Delane said he’s very familiar with his predecessor’s game.
“He’s a great player,” Delane said. “I like to study all types of guys in the league, and he’s one of the best to do it, especially with his versatility. So, you know, just not knowing where I’m going to fit in, I can fit anywhere in that defense, Spags’ defense. So really, just excited to step in and make an impact.”
Both also spent the majority of the time as outside cornerbacks in college, but scouts believe Delane can add slot corner to his resume just as McDuffie did.
The trade leaves the Chiefs with six picks remaining in this year’s draft:
- No. 29 overall in the first round
- No. 40 overall (second round)
- No. 109 overall (fourth round)
- No. 169 overall (fifth round)
- No. 176 overall (fifth round)
- No. 210 overall (sixth round)
The Name
Delane’s name, which is pronounced MAHN-soor duh-LANE, is a practicing Muslim. His name is Arabic for “he who is victorious.”
Love of the Game
Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach said last week team’s can make a mistake in selecting players who don’t love football, thinking they can infuse them with a love of the game.
Delane needs no such persuasion.
“I love, I love everything about it,” he said. “I love the violence of the sport. And again, on a different note, I love the relationships it brings, you know, it just brings me around so many great people, and so many different bridges, more than after football. I just think it’s a beautiful game, and I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
