Grading the Chiefs’ pick of Mansoor Delane at No. 9 in the NFL Draft
Arrowhead Pride • • sports
Key Points:
- The Kansas City Chiefs selected LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with the ninth overall pick, moving up three spots and giving up two additional picks to secure him.
- The pick is controversial as the Chiefs had recently traded All-Pro corner Trent McDuffie, signaling a possible shift away from prioritizing the secondary, yet they used high draft capital to select another cornerback.
- Critics argue that the Chiefs overlooked more pressing needs at wide receiver and edge rusher, and question why the team did not simply retain McDuffie instead of investing heavily in Delane.
- While Delane is recognized as a talented perimeter shutdown corner in a tough conference, some analysts feel other prospects like Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, or Reuben Bain would have been better fits given the team’s long-term needs.
- The Chiefs have a history of finding cornerback value in later rounds, making this decision to trade up for Delane unusual, though if he performs as expected, the pick could still be justified.
