As the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft was getting going, there was a trade that moved the Kansas City Chiefs up three spots from No. 9 to No. 6. With that pick, head coach Andy Reid and the Chiefs picked former Virginia Tech defensive back Mansoor Delane.
Delane has missed a good amount of time this training camp- his first, with an injury- but he has been very active in drills and watching closely, looking to get on the field when Kansas City opens the season on Sept. 14 at home on Monday Night Football against the Denver Broncos. He got his first preseason game action this past weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but like in college, there were not many balls thrown his way.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid lauds former Virginia Tech CB
Delane played just one quarter in the game, but on three Buccaneers drives, he did not have a ball thrown his way, which is something he is used to from his time at Virginia Tech and LSU. In four years of college football, his chances to make plays were few and far between. The ball usually was thrown away from him.
"You could see the athletic ability, feet, the instincts," Reid said. "(Delane) just builds on that and goes. You can obviously see the talent. He's like the other rookies. Will there be a mistake? Here or there... Learn from whatever mistake you make and move forward."
Delane spent his first three seasons of college ball in Blacksburg, where he defended just 16 passes in 33 games. He got into eight his first season in 2022 for former head coach Brent Pry, before playing in 25 the next two seasons. After the 2024 season, he entered the Transfer Portal rather than entering the NFL Draft and ended up at LSU. He defended 11 passes last fall with a pair of interceptions. He had six picks with the Hokies.
He joins a Chiefs secondary that also includes former Virginia Tech standout Chamarri Conner, who has already won a Super Bowl with Kansas City. Delane is someone who is going to play and play a lot for Reid and the Chiefs this season. The former Hokies and Tigers cover corner will certainly open some eyes with fans, as he has already done with his head coach.
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