The Kansas City Chiefs made two of the most high-profile picks of the 2026 NFL Draft.
They took cornerback Mansoor Delane at sixth overall, who is considered by many as one of the most surefire selections on the draft. Kansas City then grabbed defensive tackle Peter Woods at No. 29 overall, whose athletic upside is sky-high.
Delane and Woods should have significant roles on the Chiefs’ defense right off the bat as rookies. They are being banked on to be cornerstone pieces over the next several years, and help Kansas City get back to being perennial Super Bowl contenders.
Kansas City Chiefs CB Mansoor Delane Predicted to Be Among Favorites for 2026 Defensive Rookie of the Year
GettyCB Mansoor Delane
ESPN analyst Ben Solak recently projected his candidates for Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2026. Delane was listed among four others (David Bailey, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, Rueben Bain Jr.) in the “favorites” category.
From Solak: “The Chiefs traded up in the first round to secure Delane, and he will have an unimpeded path to CB1 reps after they traded Trent McDuffie and let Jaylen Watson walk in free agency. Corners need production on the ball to win this award, and Delane will get tested as a rookie covering star receivers. He was quite productive in college — 11 passes defensed in 11 games during his final season. Cornerbacks don’t win the award often, but all three winners this century were after 2014. It’s hard to put Delane clearly above the edge rushers, but when corners win Rookie of the Year, they look like this.”
Kansas City’s defense has struggled to force turnovers as of late. In 2025 it ranked 28th in the NFL with just 14. If Delane can help in that department, it will be a huge boost for the unit. He recorded eight interceptions throughout his four-year collegiate career, along with four forced fumbles. If Delane does rack up a lot of picks, some of that will likely be attributed to the pass rush, which leads us to Woods.
Chiefs DT Peter Woods Named Long Shot to Win 2026 Defensive Rookie of the Year
GettyDT Peter Woods chases QB LaNorris Sellers
Although he was placed in the “long shots” category rather than the “favorites,” Woods ranked at 11th out of 15 total candidates.
From Solak: “I’m willing to get totally wild and draw a world in which Chris Jones draws all the double teams, Steve Spagnuolo continues to blitz at a high rate and Woods collects a ton of behind-the-line production as a cleanup man. It’s not at all likely, but for most defensive tackles drafted at No. 29, I would tell you there’s no shot. Woods is a great penetrator, and the environment is right in Kansas City.”
Woods is entering an ideal situation with the Chiefs. As Solak alluded to, Jones always faces consistent double teams from opposing offensive lines, which will provide Woods with plenty of one-on-one opportunities. If Spagnuolo unlocks Woods’ attributes early on, Woods could put up a significant sack total. He could even see situations where he is the one getting double teamed, freeing up Jones.
Pair of Chiefs Rookies Named Candidates to Earn Big Honors in 2026