The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will meet in Super Bowl LX on Sunday night. Once that game is over, all eyes will turn to the NFL Combine at the end of the month, ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
This year, there is a good chance that some former LSU players hear their name called in late April in the first-round in Pittsburgh. One of those players is cornerback Mansoor Delane. The talented cover corner has been slowly rising in most mock drafts. In the latest from Matt Miller of ESPN, he has Delane as a Top 10 pick, joining two former Tigers‘ legends.
ESPN Mock Draft Has Mansoor Delane Landing in Cincinnati
There is no denying that Delane is one of the top corners in this year’s draft. Miller predicted that he would end up with the Cincinnati Bengals with the 10th overall pick. That would make him teammates with former LSU stars Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase.
“A lot of mock drafts will have the Bengals drafting the best edge rusher available here with Trey Hendrickson’s time in Cincinnati likely over. But the top three are off the board in this mock, which presents an interesting decision. The Bengals could try to bolster the interior of the defensive line, but drafting a cornerback with the skills to excel on the outside or in the slot might be more beneficial in the AFC North,” wrote Miller.
It’s no secret that the Bengals offense has put up enough points in recent years to win games. However, the defense’s inability to stop the other teams has been an issue. Aside from inconsistent play along the defensive line, the secondary has been burned on numerous occasions. Adding a player like Delane would help to rebuild that unit.
“Delane was the best cornerback I studied in 2025, with feisty play at the line of scrimmage and excellent instincts in coverage. He doesn’t have elite measurables (6-foot, 190 pounds), but Delane’s timing and quickness on click-and-close plays stands out above the rest of the cornerback class,” Miller wrote.
Mansoor Delane Raised Draft Stock at LSU
After the 2024 season, Delane could have declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season at Virginia Tech. However, he decided to enter the Transfer Portal. He ended up committing to former LSU coach Brian Kelly. That proved to be a decision that saw his stock rise.
Delane recorded 146 tackles and six interceptions in three seasons in Blacksburg. However, he was part of a mass exodus under former coach Brent Pry after an underwhelming 2024 season. He was the biggest pickup on defense for the Tigers.
He finished the 2025 season with 45 tackles and two interceptions. His best game was in a 24-19 loss at Ole Miss in September when he registered 11 tackles. In the season opener at Clemson, he had a key interception to seal a 17-10 win.
There is a clear need for cornerbacks in Cincinnati. Delane would be someone who would come in and start right away. Adding him to a team that has a pair of LSU legends would be an ideal landing spot for him and the team.
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