While it wasn't a shock to see the Kansas City Chiefs make a trade with the Cleveland Browns to move up three slots in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night, it was shocking to see that they did so in order to select LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 6 overall. And it was unquestionably a shock to see how much they gave up to make this move.
The first-round swap was there, of course, with Kansas City giving Cleveland the No. 9 overall pick, which the Browns used to take Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano, but Brett Veach also dealt away a third-rounder (No. 74 overall) and a fifth-rounder (No. 148 overall) to get the 22-year-old.
It's not as if Delane isn't an elite talent, as the Maryland native earned First-Team All-SEC and unanimous All-American honors with the Tigers in 2025. And the Chiefs obviously needed to replenish the secondary after trading Trent McDuffie and losing Jaylen Watson and Bryan Cook in free agency.
But that's quite the haul to trade away for a player who many believe may have still been on the board at No. 9. Nevertheless, what's done is done, and here's how FanSided's NFL Draft Big Board describes the Chiefs' selection:
"Delane has managed to carve out a role as a high-end cornerback with incredible stickiness in man coverage and some of the best turnover generation in this class despite the fact that he isn't a particularly big player. After the Pro Day helped answer questions about his speed, Delane showed that he has all the tools needed to overcome the lack of ideal size and be a productive outside cornerback the second he steps on an NFL field."
Now, let's have a look at what some others are saying about this unexpected trade.
CBS Sports: B-
Jeremy Renner of CBS Sports rolled with a B-minus grade and had this to say:
"Delane is the safest pick at corner in this draft class. If you can do what he did in the SEC last season, you can produce in the NFL. It's more the desperation of having to give up a third-rounder to do so that bumps this down. It's a position that historically teams have been able to find later in the draft as the Chiefs themselves know well."
The Athletic: A
Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic actually went with an A grade in his assessment, saying he liked how aggressive the Chiefs were to get Delane:
"The Chiefs do not plan to be drafting this high again any time soon. As a result, Kansas City traded up to No. 6 (sending Nos. 9, 74 and 148 to Cleveland) and replaced Trent McDuffie with the best — and safest — cornerback on the board. The most comfortable man-coverage defender in the draft, Delane is very difficult to stack and fool in coverage and should be a factor in Kansas City quickly.
"This is a great pick. Delane is a high-floor player who oozes confidence and will have no problems entering a serious, championship-level operation. Love the aggressiveness the Chiefs showed here."
Yahoo Sports: C+
Charles McDonald of Yahoo Sports wasn't quite as kind, as he opted for a C+ mark, echoing what we said above about Delane probably still being there at No. 9:
"The Chiefs are in need of a cornerback, but this feels a little rich for Delane. He’s talented and will fit right in on a weak Chiefs secondary, but this is surprising with Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs still on the board. Not a bad pick, but Delane could’ve been had at the ninth overall pick without trading up."
USA Today: B-
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA Today has rolled with a B-minus:
"This wasn't the seismic trade that many were expecting, but it's still meaningful. Kansas City moved up ahead of Washington to ensure it would land Delane, this class' unquestioned top cover man. In doing so, Brett Veach reloads his secondary after offloading Trent McDuffie.
"Despite the franchise's habit of developing younger corners, Kansas City now has a bit more confidence in its ability to answer for Justin Herbert and Bo Nix, whose passing attacks could take a step forward next year. But the Chiefs missed a prime opportunity to address their pass rush, and any coverage benefits might be moot if the team can't generate sufficient pressure."
Saturday Blitz: A
And finally, Nicholas Rome of our pals over at Saturday Blitz also went with an A grade:
"The biggest need for the Chiefs was cornerback, and moving up to secure the best cornerback in the draft is a perfect move. Mansoor Delane will help the Chiefs replace Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, giving this defense a true CB1 as the team looks to return to the playoffs."