The Kansas City Chiefs’ draft pick of Mansoor Delane drew immediate backlash after a blockbuster trade up in the first round.
The Chiefs traded up for Delane, and one analyst immediately called it the “absolute worst” pick of the first round. Kansas City did not wait long to make their move on the first night of the 2026 NFL draft, and the gambit immediately drew fire. Kansas City sent Nos. 9, 74 and 148 overall picks to the Cleveland Browns to jump to No. 6, where the Chiefs selected LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. The reaction from analysts was fast, but not great.
Mike Phillips of FanSided led his list of the five “absolute worst” picks from the first round with the selection. The criticism was not directed at Delane himself. Phillips conceded he is the top cornerback in the class. But the price Kansas City surrendered to land the LSU corner, three spots earlier than Phillips argued was necessary, was much too high. Most draft analysts believed Delane would have been available at No. 9 without the Chiefs spending a second-rounder and a fifth-rounder to get there.
The backlash centered less on Delane and more on how aggressively Kansas City paid to get him.
The criticism runs deeper than draft value. The Chiefs traded All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in March for four draft selections, a move that appeared to signal a shift away from investing heavily at the position. Less than a week later, the Rams and McDuffie agreed to a four-year, $124 million extension with $100 million guaranteed, making McDuffie the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. Kansas City then used three picks to take his replacement three spots earlier than needed.
More Analysts Slam Chiefs’ Mansoor Delane Decision
Draft analysts at Arrowhead Pride were equally unimpressed by the deal. One noted that wide receiver and edge rusher were more pressing needs, with Jordyn Tyson and Rueben Bain Jr. still on the board when Kansas City moved.
Another went further.
“Wouldn’t it have made more sense to just pay McDuffie, who you already knew was good, and take a player at a different position?” asked Nate Christensen of Arrowhead Pride, who gave the deal a “D” grade. “McDuffie has made two All-Pro teams. Delane would not only have to exceed that, but he would also need to be even better than that to justify the sixth-overall pick.”
A third Arrowhead Pride analyst, Rocky Magana, acknowledged Delane’s talent but noted the irony that Veach had said days before the draft that cornerback was among the deepest positions in this class. The Chiefs have built a reputation for finding secondary value in the middle rounds. Trading up to spend a top-10 pick and two more selections on the position cuts against everything that reputation was built on.
What Mansoor Delane Brings to the Kansas City Chiefs
Delane’s on-field credentials are not in question. The 22-year-old spent three seasons at Virginia Tech before transferring to LSU, where he allowed just 14 catches on 35 targets and earned All-American honors. He totaled 191 tackles, eight interceptions and 27 pass deflections across 44 college games.
Delane said on the draft broadcast that the Chiefs deliberately kept their interest quiet throughout the process. “They just wanted to keep quiet and make that sneak move,” he said, as quoted by The New York Post. “And they made the best move in the draft, so I’m excited.”
General manager Brett Veach confirmed the strategy in his post-draft press conference, saying defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo advised against an official visit by Delane to avoid tipping off the competition. Veach pegged the New Orleans Saints, picking at No. 8, as Kansas City’s primary competitor for Delane, according to NBC Sports reporter Myles Simmons.
Drafting two spots later at No. 8, the Saints took the Arizona State wide receiver Tyson, who was widely believed to be one of Kansas City’s prime targets and who would have filled a more pressing need for the Chiefs.
Chiefs Pick Mansoor Delane Ripped as ‘Absolute Worst’ After Blockbuster Trade