LSU corner Mansoor Delane on potentially being drafted by the Saints

Yahoo Sports1h ago42 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane is a potential first-round draft pick for the Saints at No. 8. Delane expressed excitement about the opportunity to play for defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.

Key points

Mansoor Delane is a cornerback from LSU.
The Saints may draft Delane with the No. 8 pick.
This would be the first-ever Saints first-round pick from LSU.
Delane appreciates the opportunity to play for Brandon Staley.

Brandon StaleyMansoor DelaneNew Orleans SaintsLSU Tigers

LSU corner Mansoor Delane on potentially being drafted by the Saints

A massive talking point of every NFL draft cycle is which teams will select which players, or, more importantly to some fans, which position. Many still believe the position of need supersedes talent, and while it has been proven time and time again that this typically is not the case outside of quarterbacks, it is still discussed as the truth.

That said, in the 2026 class, there is a perfect mix of high-end talent at a position of need for the Saints to consider, that being LSU Tigers cornerback Mansoor Delane. With corner being a massive draw at the moment, Delane could be in play at pick No. 8, marking the first-ever Saints first-round pick from the school. In a brief discussion pre-draft with Drew Collings for FanSided, Delane highlighted the opportunity to play for defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.

"Sure, it would be cool, just got talking to coach Staley, I love that guy, really smart, so really just, it would be a blessing to play for a team like that," Delane said.

Hearing that he has had the opportunity to speak with Staley and appreciates him so far is a positive sign, especially right before the draft day comes around. Adding a talent like Delane would really raise both the floor and ceiling of this Saints defense, as good coverage can make up for a lot of deficiencies in a unit.

Delane, Kool-Aid McKinstry, and Quincy Riley are a fun trio to build around for the future, especially considering all three would be on smaller-scale deals for at least another full season. While it may not be the expected pick by many mock draft enthusiasts, it should be watched for as Roger Goodell takes the podium for the eighth time Thursday night.