Mansoor Delane provided a glimpse of his abilities during his four-year stint with Virginia Tech and LSU. He started as a defensive back as a freshman with the Hokies before shifting to cornerback in his sophomore year, and that was his position ever since.
Delane, who transferred to LSU in 2025, capped his college football career with a performance deserving of a consensus All-American nod. He recorded 45 total tackles (26 solo, 19 assisted), two interceptions, and a career-high 11 passes defended. His performance places him as a late-first round pick, per an updated NFL draft projection, with the recently crowned Super Bowl 60 champion Seattle Seahawks taking him in.
Mansoor Delane Seen To Land Onto Super Bowl 60 Champs’ Arms in Latest NFL Mock Draft
In his latest seven-round NFL Mock Draft, PFSN NFL draft analyst Ian Cummings believed there would be many teams focusing on defense in the first round, despite Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza being the top pick.
He expects the likes of Rueben Bain, David Bailey, Arvell Reese, Caleb Banks and Caleb Downs to be selected within the Top 10, as various squads would likely concentrate more on defense following the aftermath of Super Bowl 60, where the Seattle Seahawks’ defense dominated AFC champions New England, limiting the Patriots to 10 points en route to a 27-10 conquest and securing its second Super Bowl.
There is a possibility that Delane could still be waiting for his name to be called, and experts expect him to get drafted between the No. 18 and the late part of the first round. Due to this, Seattle is likely to pounce on the opportunity and take the LSU All-American in a first-round trade with the Los Angeles Chargers.
By mandate, the Seahawks are supposed to get the No. 32 pick in the NFL draft due to their Super Bowl 60 triumph. Still, Cummings feels that head coach Mike Macdonald and defensive backs coach Karl Scott may ask general manager John Schneider to move up in the draft order to address their cornerback situation.
Schneider could oblige and arrange a trade with the Chargers, who hold the No. 22 pick. Cummings expects the Seahawks to give away their No. 32 and No. 96 picks this season, a 2027 second-round pick, and a 2027 third-round pick for the Chargers’ No. 22 and No. 123 picks.
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“Seeing that Mansoor Delane was falling down the board in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, the Seahawks decided to take advantage and make an aggressive trade up. The move costs the Seahawks heavily in 2027 but also locks down a long-term area of turnover on defense,” Cummings said.
“If there’s any reason Delane falls in the draft, it’s because he’s not quite the same size-adjusted athlete, but he’s an elite technician and a swarming catch-point playmaker, who forces cornered QBs to choose between him, Nick Emmanwori, and Devon Witherspoon,” he added.
NFL Analyst Compares Mansoor Delane to Super Bowl 59 Winner Quinyon Mitchell
LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane had one NFL analyst comparing him to Philadelphia Eagles cornerback and Super Bowl 59 winner Quinyon Mitchell due to his ability to excel in press coverage and his skills to disrupt an offensive sequence.
According to NFL analyst Lance Zierlein, Delane is expected to be one of the top cornerback picks in this cornerback-rich draft, as he is described as having smooth hips and efficient footwork, keeping him connected in man coverage.
“His processing allows for quick transitions in off-man and short zone looks. He has good top-end speed for vertical phasing but is inconsistent turning to find the football,” Zierlein said. “While he locks in on the route at times, he’s rarely oblivious to the quarterback’s actions, allowing him to slam catch windows shut and play the football.”
His durability and toughness were exceptional during his college football stint. He performed at an elite level with LSU despite playing through with a core muscle injury. His potential as a lockdown defender is high, thanks to his ability to guard his man.
Whether he will end up in the early first round or in the middle to the late first round, Delane has proven himself as a real deal in the cornerback position in college football. He now has to step inside the NFL and prove he is worth the money everyone sees him becoming.
