Former LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane distinguished himself as one of the best defensive players in college football in a struggling Tigers team that fired coach Brian Kelly mid-way through last season.
In a wide-open draft class light on quarterback talent, Delane has been projected as a potential top-10 pick in various mock drafts.
PFSN Mock Draft Projects Mansoor Delane to Strengthen Bengals’ Secondary
During his latest mock draft, PFSN analyst Alec Elijah predicted that the Cincinnati Bengals would strengthen their struggling secondary by selecting Delane with the No. 10 pick on draft night.
“With the secondary remaining an area to reinforce, the Cincinnati Bengals could look to add a true shutdown corner, and Mansoor Delane stands out as one of the most polished defensive backs in this year’s class,” Elijah wrote. “The LSU standout earned the highest PFSN CB Impact score in the draft at 96.8, reflecting both his production and overall influence in coverage.”
Elijah further broke down the specifics that made Delane the best cornerback in the 2026 NFL Draft class and how his abilities will translate to the NFL.
“What separates Delane is his controlled movement and instincts,” Elijah wrote. “He transitions effortlessly out of his backpedal, shows sharp change-of-direction ability, and reacts quickly to developing routes without wasted motion.
“His anticipation allows him to stay in phase with receivers, while his disciplined aggression helps him make plays on the ball.”
Delane is in competition for the first cornerback off the board on draft night with former South Carolina Gamecocks star Brandon Cisse, whose stock has risen after a stellar 2025 college football season. He transferred from Virginia Tech to LSU last year and played through a core muscle injury for most of the season as he improved his draft stock, despite the Tigers’ struggles.
During Monday’s segment of “SportsCenter,” ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid linked Delane to the Los Angeles Rams, who hold both the No. 13 and No. 29 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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“It’s hard to believe that the Rams have only drafted one cornerback during the first day of the draft since Sean McVay took over in 2017,” Reid said. “Mansoor Delane allowed the same number of touchdowns and penalties as you and I had last season, zero.”
“That’s how great he was. I think this is the best corner in the draft and LA adding him would be fantastic.”
Delane was named First-team All-SEC and was a unanimous All-American after tallying 45 tackles and leading the SEC in passes defended (13) and passes broken up (11) last season. The talented cornerback did not allow a passing touchdown and allowed only 13 receptions for 147 total yards and six first downs all season.
