Chiefs’ top draft pick Mansoor Delane takes on do-it-all role at rookie minicamp
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Mansoor Delane attends Chiefs' rookie minicamp in Kansas City the weekend after the draft.
- The Chiefs acquired Delane at No. 6 overall after trading three draft picks to Cleveland.
- Delane may fill versatile role similar to Trent McDuffie's, both outside and in the slot.
With the pomp and circumstance of the NFL Draft behind him, cornerback Mansoor Delane got to work on Friday at the Chiefs’ rookie minicamp.
The camp runs through the weekend in Kansas City.
“It’s great — just to actually get to play football now and do what I do,” Delane said. “So it feels good. Just getting back to do what I do.”
The Chiefs acquired Delane with the No. 6 overall pick in Round 1 after sending their No. 9 pick, a third-rounder (No. 74) and a fifth-rounder (No. 148) to the Cleveland Browns. Cornerback became the top priority for Kansas City in the NFL Draft after trading All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams.
As soon as Delane received a call from the Chiefs, he knew the pick was intentional, given defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s preference for defensive backs who can do it all.
“(LSU) coach (Blake) Baker’s defense, it was a multiple defense,” Delane said. “I got to do everything. I think that ultimately led me to be in the position I am right now, and just similar to kind of Spags’ defense, we play everything. A lot of NFL defenses, they may do one type of thing, but we play every type of coverage.”
McDuffie became such a valuable piece for Spagnuolo thanks to his ability to line up outside then kick inside to the slot when necessary. If Delane is going to step into that role immediately, he’ll need the reps: at LSU in 2025, he logged more than 500 snaps outside compared to fewer than 40 in the slot.
Still, since the selection, the Chiefs have insisted the rookie is capable.
“I could just do whatever the team needs me,” he said. “Whatever Coach Spags needs me, I’m willing to try to be the best at it.”
Originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, Delane grew up a supporter of one of the Chiefs’ top conference rivals of the past decade — the Baltimore Ravens.
“I grew up a Ravens fan,” Delane said. “(I’m) not a Ravens fan anymore, but obviously that was some battles. We always could never get past the Chiefs, so I definitely grew up knowing what y’all do.”
Fortunately for Delane, he won’t have to worry about that anymore. As they say, if you can’t beat them, join them. And by joining them, he could also join the likes of cornerbacks Charvarius Ward, McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, who all signed lucrative contracts after beginning their career in Kansas City.
“A lot of the DBs that come here, they don’t stay for long,” Delane said. “That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It just means they’re getting developed and they’re getting put in the best position, so I’m just looking forward to be the next one. Hopefully, I’ll stay.”
Of course, achieving that goal is four to five years away, and it’s one that began Friday.
This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 1:34 PM.
