The Kansas City Chiefs certainly made some noise during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Kansas City pulled off a big trade, moving up to the sixth overall pick and drafting LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane. The Chiefs were completely transparent with their rationale for making that trade following the first round.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach explained why the team traded up to draft Delane at six.
“Once [Carnell] Tate left, it kind of solidified our decision to go up there,” Veach told the media on Thursday night, per Sports Radio 810 WHB. “If you want this guy… you’ve got to go find a way to get him.”
Veach explained that their data analytics department concluded that the Saints would likely pick Delane at eight if available. New Orleans has shed cornerback talent over the past two years, so it is reasonable to assume he could have been the pick. There’s also the fact that he’s a hometown kid who played at LSU in college.
Of course, the Chiefs entered the draft with a huge need at cornerback after losing Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson this offseason. That alone makes the trade up well worth it.
Veach also explained how Kansas City tried to keep their interest in Delane as quiet as possible leading up to the draft.
“It’s funny because when we were going through our 30 visits, I bumped Steve [Spagnuolo] and I said we’re going to bring our corner in here. He said don’t bring him in, just don’t bring him in. Let’s just Zoom him and keep it quiet. Thought we did a good job, I think a lot of people thought we might go offensive line.”
Chiefs fans have to be excited to see who their team adds on Day 2 of the draft.
The post Which pick locked in Mansoor Delane for the Chiefs? appeared first on ClutchPoints.
