KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After a whirlwind week, Chiefs first-round pick Mansoor Delane got back to work Friday at the team’s minicamp.
It was just over a week ago when the Chiefs moved up three spots to take the LSU cornerback with the sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft.
“I’m just trying to feel at home now and get comfortable,” Delane said. “My main focus is getting that playbook right and being ready to go.”
The Chiefs are counting on it. After trading Trent McDuffie to the Rams and losing their entire secondary to free agency, defensive back was a priority entering the draft. The Chiefs believe Delane can be physical and play outside and in the slot, though at LSU, Delane played mostly on the outside.
“I take pride in my cerebral part of the game,” Delane said. “I have to understand my line and my splits and to help give me an advantage before the play even happens. You just try to eliminate routes. If there’s a cut split or a wide split, there’s only a certain amount of routes you can do. So you just want to live in that route tree and make the game easier.”
Delane wore No. 4 at LSU, but that number with the Chiefs was already taken by wide receiver Rashee Rice. So Delane opted for No. 5.
“There really wasn’t too many options,” Delane said. “But I just liked this number and I feel like it’s something new. He’s got my number, so I can’t do anything about that. He’s a vet, so I’m just fitting in where I can.”
Delane was born and raised in Maryland and went to a few Ravens games growing up. He said he knows the Chiefs-Ravens rivalry well.
“I grew up a Ravens fan, but not anymore,” Delane said. “There was some battles. We never could get past the Chiefs so I definitely grew up knowing what y’all do”.
