How (and why) the Chiefs kept their No. 6 pick a surprise — even to Mansoor Delane
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chiefs traded the overall ninth, 74th and 148th picks to move up to No. 6.
- The Chiefs kept Delane’s selection quiet and were not publicly on him.
- The Chiefs view Delane as a potential defensive pillar amid three backfield vacancies.
When the Chiefs boldly traded the overall ninth, 74th and 148th picks to Cleveland on Thursday night to secure the No. 6 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the move seemed to suggest they’d address their most glamorous immediate needs.
A receiver such as Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, for instance, or perhaps edge rusher Rueben Bain of Miami — regardless of some caution lights on each.
Or maybe they’d gird themselves for the future with any of the three offensive tackles who’d end up being chosen between ninth and 12th.
Just like general manager Brett Veach had wanted everyone to be thinking, he’d say with a smile later.
Instead, the decoys and internal read of their needs took them to LSU’s Mansoor Delane, largely considered the best cornerback in the draft ... but at a position the Chiefs typically have been able to cultivate well later in the process.
“Our guy the whole time,” Veach would later call him.
If that came as a surprise, you weren’t alone.
Take it from Delane.
The Chiefs “weren’t really on me too much in this process,” he told ESPN in Pittsburgh moments after the selection. “But they said they just wanted to keep it quiet and make that sneak move.
“And they made the best move in the draft.”
Maybe so. Maybe not. Because there’s no way to know now.
But if it seemed curious at first glance, the Chiefs certainly have conviction about Delane becoming a pillar of the defense — one that had three openings in the backfield.
As Chiefs head coach Andy Reid put it, “we had some vacancies” that needed to be taken care of — a priority that perhaps also says something about where they see their offense after the acquisition of star running back Kenneth Walker III, the Super Bowl MVP for Seattle.
Filling this one was like Christmas, Reid added, for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
As ever, Spagnuolo had considerable input and figures to appreciate a player of his size, speed, smarts — and what Reid gleaned from their meetings to be both confidence and a certain humble coachability.
At an extreme end, they can hope he’d be the sort of force and presence of past LSU defensive backs Johnny Robinson and Tyrann Mathieu — each of whom was instrumental in two Chiefs Super Bowl berths generations apart.
“Chiefs kingdom take care of Our Tiger,” Mathieu posted on X shortly after the pick.
More reasonably, the Chiefs certainly could envision Delane having the sort of impact made by nearly all the defensive backs they’ve selected in the first round over the years.
Like Jim Marsalis, Gary Green, Dale Carter, Jerome Woods, Eric Berry and Marcus Peters.
Most recently and relevantly was Trent McDuffie, an All-Pro they traded to the Rams for four draft picks — including the 29th overall that the Chiefs later Thursday used to take Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods.
Astounded as he might have been at the opportunity to be the next McDuffie, Delane also was so elated when he saw the call from a Kansas City number that he almost immediately started crying.
Without even processing with whom he was speaking, he said “thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you” before later speaking with coach Reid and Veach.
Safe to say he was more energized by the statement the Chiefs made trading up for him than he was burdened by it.
“For sure: I think pressure’s a privilege,” Delane said, later adding, “It just shows how much they wanted me, and you want to be somewhere where you’re wanted. You can’t ask for anything better than that.”
There were plenty of reasons the Chiefs wanted him enough to pull the ol’ switcheroo — both in terms of trading those picks and, in effect, bringing him in for McDuffie.
That dynamic reflected what’s become the new world order for the Chiefs, whose superb 2022 draft class was highlighted by McDuffie.
That group of players, which also featured departed cornerback starter Jaylen Watson, basically over-performed to such an extent that they largely priced themselves out for a franchise whose financial commitment to Patrick Mahomes ripples out into salary cap challenges.
Only George Karlaftis remains from a 10-man class that featured six players who made significant contributions along the way.
So roster churn is an emerging coin of the realm for the Chiefs. And with that comes needs at about every position but quarterback, some perhaps more glaring than others but all part of the Rubik’s twists and turns of their broader equation.
Including some subterfuge in this case.
While the Chiefs had been focusing in on Delane for weeks, Veach said, they went to certain lengths not to give that away.
Although they spoke with him among many others at the NFL Scouting Combine, when Spagnuolo wanted to bring him in for a visit Veach said “let’s keep it quiet.” Instead, they met by Zoom several times, most recently on Tuesday.
And quiet it stayed as the first few picks unfurled on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs’ predictive models were telling them that the Saints at No. 8 would be their biggest obstacle. But they were intent on landing a player they believe will be the sort of difference-maker they require, with the most premium pick they’ve had since choosing No. 1 overall in 2013.
Having established what Veach called some “traction” with Cleveland, the Chiefs went for what they’d identified as their most urgent need. And made it happen.
Even if it didn’t necessarily meet the eye from the outside looking in — at least in part by design.