A Montgomery County native came off the board early Thursday night after the Kansas City Chiefs made an aggressive move up the draft board to secure one of the top defensive prospects in the class.
The Chiefs traded with the Cleveland Browns to move up to the No. 6 overall pick, selecting cornerback Mansoor Delane, a Silver Spring native who has emerged as one of the nation’s premier defensive backs.
Mansoor’s rise to a top-10 selection follows a dominant college career that culminated in a standout senior season at LSU. He did not allow a touchdown across 357 coverage snaps and was targeted on less than 10 percent of those plays. His performance earned him unanimous First-Team All-American honors and a spot as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
Before becoming one of the SEC’s top defenders, Mansoor’s football journey began locally. He attended Landon School in Bethesda before transferring to Archbishop Spalding High School, where he developed into a nationally recognized recruit. He began his college career at Virginia Tech.
At LSU, he built a reputation as a lockdown corner, limiting opposing receivers to a 43.6 percent catch rate over his final two seasons. He also showcased elite speed with a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, reinforcing his status as one of the most complete defensive backs in the draft.
