Mansoor Delane's decision to transfer from Virginia Tech to LSU paid off in the best way possible. Delane was the star of LSU's defense and was arguably the best cornerback in all of college football this past season. For his efforts, he became just the fourth defensive back in LSU history to be selected as an unanimous All-American.
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Delane turned heads all season long, emerging as a true lock-down corner who was rarely targeted. On the season, the senior cornerback allowed just 13 catches for 147 yards over the course of 11 games and 358 pass coverage snaps. Delane also totaled 45 tackles and led the SEC in passes defended (13) and passes broken up (11).
After putting together such a sensational campaign with LSU, Delane is primed for a strong career playing on Sundays. He is a projected First Round pick, and the latest Mock Draft from Saturday Blitz has Delane taking over for a former two-time Pro Bowler.
Mansoor Delane projected as No. 12 overall pick by Saturday Blitz
In the latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft from Saturday Blitz, Delane is projected to be selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 12 overall pick. The defensive side of the ball will be a big priority for Dallas this offseason, as the offense has far fewer question marks than the defense. Delane could be the perfect addition to address one of those defensive question marks.
Nicholas Rome of Saturday Blitz notes that the Cowboys are now heading into their first season without Trevon Diggs at cornerback since 2019. Diggs has been a mainstay in Dallas' secondary, and is a two-time Pro Bowler (2021, 2022), First-Team All-Pro (2021), and was the NFL interceptions leader in 2021.
However, Diggs spent time on IR with lingering concussion problems in October, and when he returned to the field, it became apparent that his skill set had regressed. The Cowboys made the move to release him on December 30. Dallas still has an impact cornerback in the form of Daron Bland, and adding Delane to the mix could prove to be an effective move for Jerry Jones' team.
Interestingly enough, the Cowboys also had the No. 12 overall pick in last year's draft, selecting Georgia offensive lineman Tyler Booker. Prior to the 2025 season, Booker signed a four-year, $22.55 million guaranteed rookie contract that included a $13 million signing bonus. If Delane is selected in the same spot, he could be in for a similar payday.