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What to know about the Chiefs first-round picks Mansoor Delane, Peter Woods
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- What to know about the Chiefs first-round picks Mansoor Delane, Peter Woods
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach wasn't kidding when he told fans the first night of the 2026 NFL Draft, "should be an entertaining night," when outlining the team's draft plan two weeks prior.
Veach also mentioned that "there will probably be a lot of trades" during that conference, foreshadowing the Chiefs trading up from number nine overall to number six. They'd use that pick to select Louisiana State University cornerback Mansoor Delane.
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Here's what to know about Delane:
Mansoor Delane
Delane is widely considered the top cornerback in this year's draft, and the Chiefs only solidified that idea by taking him at six. He joins Trent McDuffie , Marcus Peters , Eric Berry , Jerome Woods and Dale Carter as the only defensive backs selected by Kansas City in the first round.
On the surface, it may appear that the Chiefs reached to take a corner at six. However, the team wanted an immediate impact player in the secondary after losing McDuffie and two other starters over the offseason.
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It's also worth noting that Veach mentioned that the New Orleans Saints could've snagged Delane before they had the chance.
Here's a look at some of the highlights on Delane:
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2025 unanimous All-American at LSU
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Zero touchdowns allowed in 2025
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Zero penalties committed in 2025
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13 passes defended in 2025
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Allowed just 14 catches over 357 coverage snaps in 2025
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Good size for a cornerback – 6'0″ 182 lbs
Peter Woods
The Chiefs had another first-round pick as well, and they stayed put at 29 this time.
Regardless, the Chiefs continued adding to the defense with third-year defensive tackle Peter Woods out of Clemson.
It's worth noting that both Delane and Woods should be expected to have an immediate impact on the Chiefs' defense. Woods, however, will be lining up alongside one of the best in the sport.
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"As much as he'll let me," Woods said when asked what he hopes to learn from Chris Jones .
While Woods doesn't have the same accolades as Delane, he was a Freshman All-American in 2023, earned Honorable Mention All-ACC as a sophomore, and was First-Team All-ACC in 2025.
He's very athletic for his size as well. At 6'2″ and just shy of 300 lbs, he ran a 4.6 40-yard dash with a 1.67 10-yard split, uncommon for a player of his size. He's the "ideal blend of size, strength and athleticism, with true scheme versatility," according to Pro Football Focus.
That versatility was on full display at Clemson, where he logged snaps at all three defensive tackle positions, defensive end and edge rusher. He also recorded 15 snaps on the offensive side of things at Clemson in 2025, scoring two touchdowns as a fullback .
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The NFL Draft continues with rounds two and three on Friday at 6 p.m. The Chiefs will select in the second round at 40th overall.
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