Why Not Mansoor Delane?
April 15th, 2026
LSU CB Mansoor Delane.
If a player can handle himself in the SEC trenches or succeed as a top SEC skill position player, then Joe is interested in the guy.
A lot of folks think the Bucs will go corner at No. 15 if Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht doesn’t trade back. Joe doesn’t know if this says a lot about Zyon McCollum or Benjamin Morrison, but if you are trying to win games in the NFL, you can’t quibble.
(If the Bucs draft a corner in the first round, it makes Joe wonder whose Wheaties at One Buc Palace did Jamel Dean do a No. 1 in?)
Some plugged in folks in league circles think the Bucs will go after University of Tennessee corner Jermod McCoy. The thing about McCoy that fully spooks Joe is he missed all of last year with a blown knee.
So the Bucs are supposed to use a first round pick on a dude who is already damaged goods? Nah, man.
Joe read a roundup of cornerbacks from Joe’s good friend and NFL humorist/columnist Mike Tanier on his Substack page, “Too Deep Zone.”
Tanier seems to think Mansoor Delane of LSU is a better corner. Why? He produced in the SEC. Tanier’s description is compelling.
Delane was so good in 2025 that he was invisible.
Clemson decided to challenge Delane in the 2025 season opener. Cade Klubnik targeted Delane’s receivers ten times. The results: one 19-yard catch, one interception, another pass broken up, lots of hopeless throws to utterly blanketed receivers.
That was that. Delane was targeted just 23 times the rest of the season. He allowed a total of eight catches for 95 yards, with two interceptions and 10 passes defensed. Alabama targeted Delane twice, Vanderbilt once. Florida targeted Delane four times; he allowed zero receptions. Opponents simply avoided Delane’s side of the field.
Tanier thinks Delane compares favorably with former LSU corner and current Houston Texans star Derek Stingley.
Delane ran a 4.38-second forty at his Pro Day. He has all the athletic tools a team could ask for in a shutdown cornerback. His weaknesses are mostly quibbles. Delane was good-not-outstanding for three years at Virginia Tech before portalling to LSU in 2025, which may be why Clemson chose to challenge him. But Delane turned 22 in December: he’s not some overaged prospect or system product. He appears to be a defender who blossomed while climbing up a level.
Delane is the #1 prospect in the 2026 Too Deep 96. He’d be a Top Ten prospect in most drafts. I will admit that I may be evaluating him on the negative space on his stat lines and tape: in other words, all the plays he did not have to make. But it means something when SEC coaches and quarterbacks go out of their way to avoid a defender.
Delane may be a notch below former LSU standout Derek Stingley as a prospect, but it’s a tiny notch.
Joe checked Daniel Jeremiah’s latest mock and he has Delane going to Miami at No. 11, four slots above the Bucs. So it’s not like he’s expected to be a top-five pick.
Hey, stranger things have happened in the draft. If Delane slips to the Bucs, should Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager pull the trigger?
Mansoor Delane (5’11 191) LSU
+ Has played over 2,400 career snaps
+ Physical in run support
+ Just a 38.2% completion rate allowed against in 2025
+ 91.0 coverage grade
+ Competitive at the catch point
+ 8 career interceptions
+ Coverage instincts
+ 74.4 run defense grade— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) February 15, 2026
April 15th, 2026 at 9:04 am
He will probably be gone by the time the Bucs pick and I don’t want to burn high draft picks in order to move up to be able to draft this guy…
Unfortunately – this team needs more than just one DB out of this draft class.
April 15th, 2026 at 9:09 am
Not against it he he falls. Like D line you can never have too many quality DBs
April 15th, 2026 at 9:27 am
If he slips, sure. But he won’t.
April 15th, 2026 at 9:28 am
Simply…
Because we need LB and Edge rushers DESPERATELY.
April 15th, 2026 at 9:32 am
Due to his medical history… Please, God, no.
April 15th, 2026 at 9:32 am
Stand pat or move back. We can miss out on Delanie and still have McCoy/Hood as options IF we were looking to spend a day 1 pick at CB.
If not, there are plenty of opposition outside of the top 5 players at the position that fit what we do.
You’ll notice most of these CBs are versed in zone coverage, but the really valuable ones also have some ability playing man, kind of like Benjamin Morrison. Plenty of familiarity in zone concepts, but as an individual can thrive in man coverage as well. Not all CBs in this class have that versatility.
April 15th, 2026 at 9:33 am
I would rather see LB, DL or OL at this pick but as long as its the BPA thats not a TE or WR I’m good.
April 15th, 2026 at 9:33 am
This kid can play, simple as that…but he’ll be gone before #11 imo…i think the lions might trade up to get him
GO BUCS!!!!
April 15th, 2026 at 9:35 am
Devin Moore in the 3rd would be great
GO BUCS!!!
April 15th, 2026 at 9:40 am
Why not?
Because he won’t be there at 15
April 15th, 2026 at 9:55 am
He doesn’t get turned around while still blanketing his guy, he recognizes the play and then sheds the WR block to stick his nose at the ball carrier. That’s really good corner play not to get driven out of the underneath throw and catch runner and make a play.
April 15th, 2026 at 10:02 am
Sure. Why not. Gotta waste the draft picks on someone.
April 15th, 2026 at 10:18 am
SEC ñot what it used to be. Big ten rules now.
April 15th, 2026 at 10:24 am
If you give any nfl quarterback time in the pocket
They will beat most cornerbacks.
So as we’ve seen way too much…got to get pressure…
April 15th, 2026 at 10:24 am
Wont be there….will Lee III maybe with a 3rd or top of 4th trade up….
April 15th, 2026 at 10:37 am
Cause he prob won’t be there… If he is then the Bucs should prob RUN to the podium.
April 15th, 2026 at 11:03 am
I don’t see this kid getting past the Cowboys, unless Bain is there for them. Jerry seems extremely desperate for a pass rusher. I would NOT trade up if I were them, unless it was for Love. I LOVED Derek Stingley Jr. at LSU. He is a freaking STUD. A really really nice player. There are so few legit STAR Corners in the league. Maybe, just a handful. He’s definitely one of them. I’ve always LOVED LSU DB’s and LB’s. LSU is my favorite school in EVERY sport (including gymnastics lol), outside of Kentucky, of course. I don’t think you could go wrong taking him. I hope he’s there, if we don’t trade back with the Jets and pick up one of their THREE 2027 1sts. I hope the Ty Simpson hype starts to heat up and the Jets just fall in love with him. Most likely, NOT happenin.
April 15th, 2026 at 11:25 am
Because he’s already picked. Does anyone think he’s falling to 15?
You’re supposed to drop the AI bongmask pictures the morning of the draft. Too early and teams get a chance to verify them.