The Minnesota Vikings are in a transitional phase, trying to undo some of the mistakes of their recent past, and adding a player like Mansoor Delane in the 2026 draft would go a long way towards that end.
Minnesota has had some misses in the secondary, including ones out of their control, leading them to add Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah to Byron Murphy last offseason.
Adding Delane this offseason could help the Vikings get back on track.
Vikings Urged to Draft LSU’s Mansoor Delane
GettyMansoor Delane #4 of the Louisiana State Tigers celebrates a pass defense during the game against the South Carolina Gamecocks.
USA Today’s Ayrton Ostly suggested Delane for the Vikings, picking him as the “perfect prospect” for Minnesota in the 2026 draft.
“Delane is as ready-made to contribute from Day 1 as any cornerback in this class,” Ostly wrote on April 17, saying Delane would be a “much-needed boost” to the Vikings’ versatile secondary. “He’s a long, technically sound cornerback who ran well in his Pro Day to dissuade any athleticism concerns.”
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Delane to Quinyon Mitchell of the Philadelphia Eagles. He cited Delane’s ability in press coverage, toughness, and ability to adjust to plays on the fly when on the field, saying he has “lockdown potential.”
The Ringer’s Todd McShay also projected a high ceiling for Delane.
“Delane is an NFL-ready corner who should step into a starting role as a rookie and is capable of developing into a team’s no. 1 corner early in his career,” McShay wrote in his pre-draft profile. “His instincts, versatility, and toughness compare well to 2022 first-round pick Trent McDuffie, who also has short arms and small hands.”
However, the Vikings may be well out of position to land Delane in the draft unless they are willing and able to move up.
The Athletic’s Austin Mock ranked Delane seventh in his “consensus” big board on April 14.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. projected Delane to the Cincinnati Bengals with the 10th overall pick in his mock draft on April 15. In either case, the Vikings would have to make a significant move to secure Delane.
Vikings Balancing Cap vs Competing
GettyMansoor Delane #4 of the LSU Tigers after breaking up a pass against the Arkansas Razorbacks.
The Vikings own nine picks in the draft, which begins on April 23. According to DraftTek’s trade value chart, the Vikings’ current pick (18th overall) is worth 900 points.
Pick No. 9, owned by the Kansas City Chiefs, is worth 1,350 points.
The Vikings would need to add another 450 points (their second-rounder is worth 410 points alone) to match value in a trade, per the chart. That assumes the Chiefs even want to part ways with the pick instead of adding a top-10 player to their roster.
Moreover, the Vikings would again be shorting themselves on adding cost-controlled talent to a roster that had them over the salary cap entering the offseason.
However, this is also a team that won 14 games two seasons ago.
They hope to have addressed their quarterback issues with Kyler Murray in free agency, and could view a bold move like a trade up for Delane as putting a finishing touch on their group rather than exclusively taking a volume-based approach in the draft.
The Vikings signed James Pierre in free agency this offseason, further diminishing their need for a cornerback, but Delane’s potential could be too tantalizing to pass up trying to land.
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