The current era of college football is defined by its transfers. In this perpetual gold rush, the blue bloods have the bankroll and pedigree to land a big fish, offering the best odds at an immediate impact.
The LSU Tigers hit pay dirt on defense, even in an unsuccessful season. Cornerback Mansoor Delane, in his first year of SEC play, was among the best defensive backs in the nation, a bright spot in a dark season.
Delane's performance will be rewarded in April. A near-lock for Round 1, Delane's pre-draft process could land him inside the top half of the first round.
Mansoor Delane's strengths are worthy of a top-15 pick
Delane's ability to shut down vertical routes stands out. At 6'0", 190 pounds, it's encouraging to see him play up against bigger receivers hoping to haul in passes above the rim downfield. Delane has more than enough speed to match almost anyone vertically, and he accelerates well enough to win from various alignments.
Delane has good foot speed and excellent fluidity. He mirrors receivers well at the line of scrimmage and seamlessly transitions between backpedaling, sprinting, and clicking and closing downhill. His recovery speed follows suit, and his versatility extends to coverage responsibilities.
In man coverage, Delane is willing to be physical throughout the route, but manages his contact well. He wasn't called for a penalty in 2025 after four flags at Virginia Tech a season prior. He has a knack for staying connected to receivers and is exceptional at covering intermediate in-breakers. Between his deceleration skills on curls, long speed, and strong technique, the ingredients are present for a plus corner in man coverage.
Delane has real ball skills, too, posting two interceptions and 11 passes defended as a senior. As a quick processor with excellent acceleration, Delane can hunt in zone coverage and improve on his production at the next level.
He's also a willing and able run defender who isn't scared of filling gaps when necessary, a nice bonus for a boundary corner.
Where must Delane improve?
Some of Delane's best flashes come in man coverage, but there are wrinkles to work out, too. Designed man-beaters can give him trouble, particularly slants, made worse by missed punches at the line of scrimmage.
Inconsistent hand usage in press coverage can be his undoing. That might be amplified by minor length concerns, creating a hurdle for him to clear as the receivers get bigger, stronger, and more refined.
Likewise, Delane's size might not meet ideal thresholds for several teams, especially operating decently far from 200 pounds. If that causes some to lose confidence in his ability to hold up physically in man coverage, a fall later into Round 1 is reasonable.
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In zone coverage, there can be some hiccups when left on an island against deep posts. His recovery speed is more above-average than elite, making him an occasional victim of schemed-up deep shots. This flaw could get more exposed against passers capable of taking and hitting deep shots more regularly.
While not a weakness, it's worth noting that Delane has played nearly all of his snaps on the boundary. He can likely follow receivers inside when traveling, but expecting him to move inside full-time feels like a bridge too far, inherently limiting his versatility.
Delane's NFL projection
Entering the pre-draft process, Delane has made a strong case to be the first corner off the board in April. He's an easy first-round grade, and his stock has reflected that virtually all season.
Delane projects as an above-average starter who can play on the boundary and make an impact in Year 1. There's Pro Bowl upside to unpack, too, and exceeding his expectations in Indianapolis could create a runway to a top-10 selection.
| PFF Man Grade | 89.1 |
| PFF Zone Grade | 76.8 |
| 2025 INTs | 2 |
| 2025 PBUs | 11 |
| Missed Tackle Rate | 10.6% |
| Passer Rating Against | 26.7 |
Delane's production is also an encouraging piece of the puzzle. He has eight career interceptions to 27 passes defended, is a three-year starter with a fourth year of playing time, and has perpetually posted quality NFL passer rating against marks (culminating in a 26.7 rating in 2025).
Schematically, Delane is among the class's most versatile. I'm comfortable starting him in man, Cover 3, and Tampa 2 defenses, and I doubt quarters-based teams are taking him off the board. A lack of truly elite physical traits could keep him out of the top-10, but a blend of above-average traits makes him a straightforward projection as a CB1 at the next level.
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