Not far from the north end zone of Acrisure Stadium, a road runs away from the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers toward the lights of Rivers Casino.
There, at the other end of Casino Drive, gamblers enjoy round-the-clock access to nearly 2,000 slot machines and 100 tables. It is a short walk from the stage where, on Thursday night, every NFL team showed their hand.
And, in the first round of this draft, few franchises were playing with higher stakes than the Kansas City Chiefs. But they were only too happy to roll the dice.
After five Super Bowl appearances in six seasons, Andy Reid’s team ended the 2025 campaign at a crossroads. The foundations of their dynasty had begun to creak, the body of Travis Kelce had amassed another year of scar tissue and the knee ligaments of Patrick Mahomes had ruptured.
The only silver lining? All that pain afforded the Chiefs something they hadn’t had since 2017: a top-10 draft pick. That night, Kansas City outsmarted their rivals, trading up from 27 to 10 to steal Patrick Mahomes. The quarterback wasn’t sure he would be drafted until the third round – the following day. In the end, he became the pick that changed the Chiefs and the NFL.
Nine years on, no one was certain what Kansas City would do with pick No 9; everyone knew they had to make it count to avoid the risk of further decline.
The Kansas City Chiefs selected Mansoor Delane in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft
It was the Chiefs’ first top-10 draft pick since they took Patrick Mahomes at 10 in 2017
The former LSU defensive back poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in Pittsburgh
They were linked with players including tackle Francis Mauigoa, edge Rueben Bain Jr, receiver Carnell Tate and safety Caleb Downs. Some wondered if they might trade down.
No one predicted they would trade up – and then take Mansoor Delane. Not even, it seems, the ex-LSU cornerback. Delane admitted afterwards that he hadn’t spoken much to the Chiefs over the past couple of months.
‘They weren’t really on me too much in this process,’ he said. ‘But they said they just wanted to keep it quiet and make that sneak move… they took the stealth approach.’
That was a bluff designed by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who told General Manager Brett Veach not to bring Delane into the facility. ‘Let’s keep it quiet,’ Spagnuolo said. ‘I thought we did a good job,’ Veach said on Thursday night.
It was certainly an aggressive move that caught a lot of people off guard. No matter that Delane was considered by many to be the top cornerback in this class – there were audible gasps in Pittsburgh when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced the pick.
As for online? Using social media to take the temperature of anything can be a fool’s errand. So this comes with all the usual disclaimers. But there can be no hiding the fact that, among many supporters, this move sparked a mix of shock and fury.
Could they not have waited to take Delane at No 9, rather than give up third- and fifth-round picks to the Cleveland Browns? Did they not have more pressing needs elsewhere? Delane didn’t think so. ‘They made the best move in the draft,’ he insisted.
Only time will tell if this was a costly gamble or a stroke of genius by Kansas City. All that is certain: after this ‘sneak move’ and this show of faith, after the Chiefs lost Super-Bowl winning cornerbacks Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie to the Rams, Delane will need to make an impact – and fast.
‘They made the best move in the draft,’ Delane said after he was taken with the sixth pick
The cornerback will need to make a big impact as the Chiefs look to right the wrongs of 2025
The 22-year-old wiped away tears before heading on stage. He is not to blame for the backlash and on Thursday, he didn’t seem fazed about becoming the Chiefs’ first top-10 pick since Mahomes.
‘I can’t ask for anything better, to be honest,’ Delane said about the challenge of joining an organization flush with championship-caliber players. ‘We had a little off year but… we’re going to get right back to where we were.’
He added: ‘With the expectations here, I’m expecting to live up to them. I’m ready to go… they made a great decision.’
Delane said he is relishing the chance to face the likes of Mahomes and Kelce in practice and, on the eve of this draft, the Chiefs’ legendary tight end threw down the gauntlet to prospective new teammates.
Kelce – a risky pick himself back in 2013 after a troubled college career – said he wants a recruit who ‘loves ball,’ who will add ‘fun’ and ‘infectious’ energy and then ‘unleash’ on Sundays.
‘Sometimes it takes a little bit for a guy to get comfortable in his shoes and really show his personality,’ Kelce said. ‘But coach Reid says it best: We want you to show that personality. Want you to be yourself and bring the energy.’
On the early evidence of his smile and his words, Delane will check plenty of those boxes. But the true value of this pick will only become clear on the field.
It is said the Chiefs are confident the cornerback can replace McDuffie – a two-time Super Bowl champion who just signed a $124million deal – and become a star.
Travis Kelce said he wants draft picks who ‘love ball’ and have an ‘infectious’ energy
Delane said he is relishing the chance to face Patrick Mahomes and Kelce in practice
It will help, as Delane pointed out, that he is joining a roster with championship potential – unlike most top-10 picks. Plus he will work under one of the smartest defensive minds in football, Spagnuolo, who has helped develop many young players into champions with deep pockets.
Shortly before heading off to continue his celebrations, the cornerback was asked what he might say to Mahomes the first time they speak.
‘How are you great?’ he said. ‘I want to learn from every type of person I get around… I want to take a little something from them. So just to be able to pick his brain – whether it’s the way he takes care of his body or the way he approaches the game… there’s a reason he’s great the way he is.’
Delane will, of course, struggle to match the impact Mahomes has had in Kansas City. Who wouldn’t? But maybe, just maybe, the Chiefs have hit the jackpot once more. ‘This was our guy,’ Veach insisted. ‘The whole time.’
