Cowboys 2026 draft: CB Mansoor Delane scouting report
We continue our 2026 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
Mansoor Delane
CB
LSU
Senior
3-star recruit
6’0”
190 lbs
History
In 2022, Mansoor Delane committed to Virginia Tech and played real snaps immediately. He recorded 38 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, eight pass breakups and one interception. On his first two collegiate snaps of the season, he made two tackles including a tackle for loss showing he could be an instant impact player.
In his second year at Virginia Tech, he became a full-time starter and the volume load jumped. He made 13 starts registering 54 total tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery, and made multiple splash plays on the ball. The standout moment came on his interception against rivals Virginia, which set a great example of his vision and ability to finish plays on the football early in his career.
In his third year at Virginia Tech, Delane’s ball production became a headline with 54 tackles, seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and four interceptions across 12 starts. He earned third-team All-ACC and was widely viewed as one of the most NFL-ready corners available when he entered the transfer portal in December 2024, before committing to LSU.
His final year of college at LSU, Delane turned himself from a national name into a first-round projection. He made 45 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and two interceptions in 11 games. The real highlight of the season though was the shutdown efficiency. His play style was so strong that he essentially stopped being targeted and gave up very limited production with just 169 yards allowed all season. The accolades matched the tape and he was a unanimous All-American and a Jim Thorpe Award finalist.
2025 Statistics
624 Defensive Snaps
45 Total Tackles
11 Pass Breakups
2 Interceptions
5 Missed Tackles
40% Reception Percentage Allowed
0 TD Allowed
31.3 Passer Rating Allowed
0 Penalties
Snap by Postion
Box- 8%
Slot- 5%
Wide- 87%
NFL Combine/Pro Day
N/A
Awards
2024: Third-team All-ACC.
2025: First-team All-SEC
Unanimous First-team All-American
Scorecard
Overall– 90.0
Speed- 78
Acceleration- 86
Agility- 84
Strength- 70
Tackling- 78
Man Coverage- 84
Zone Coverage- 76
Press Man- 89
Run Defense- 71
Discipline- 91
THE GOOD
- Great press-man ability.
- Shows patient, accurate hands at the line, disrupts releases and stays square through stems.
- Man-coverage consistency.
- Can carry verticals, stay in phase, and contest at the catch point.
- Great frame and reach to play outside and shrink windows.
- Tracks the ball well, times breakups, and plays through the hands at the catch point.
- Drives on throws and can recover if briefly out-leveraged.
- Quick hip flips and smooth turn/run mechanics to match routes without grabbing.
- Isn’t shy in contested situations.
- Not just a press corner specialist, can function in man-heavy and pattern-match zone structures.
THE BAD
- Slender build shows up when finishing tackles and through contact.
- Needs to add more play strength and bulk.
- Long speed is adequate, not special.
- Arm length is below ideal which can limit disruption radius.
- High-waisted build can make his backpedal mechanics clunky.
- Vulnerability to double moves.
- Anticipation needs to improve to be more consistent.
THE FIT
At his best in the NFL, Delane has massive CB1-upside as a press-man and match-quarters corner who wins with length, timing and route feel rather than pure mass. He’s at his strongest when he can play outside, disrupt releases with patient hands, stay square through stems, and transition cleanly to attack the catch point.
SUMMARY
Mansoor Delane is an exceptional outside corner whose NFL value is built on press-man and pattern-match competence. He’s long, competitive and technically advanced enough at the line to disrupt releases, stay square, and carry vertical routes without panicking. He wins with timing, route feel and controlled athleticism rather than being a pure track burner. When he’s right physically, he challenges throws, plays through the hands, and competes in contested situations, which is why his best projection is as a high-end press man boundary corner.
The limiting factors are down to the fact he’s a slimmer-bodied corner and it shows in the run game and in some finish situations. He can be outmuscled by bigger receivers and can be targeted with perimeter run or screens if a team asks him to be a primary force. His long speed is a slight negative so true vertical burners can stress him, and his build can look a bit high at times, which contributes to occasional stiffness in certain transitions and sharp-breaking routes. There are also reps where he gets a little grabby downfield, although this got cleaner in 2025.
Overall, the cleanest NFL deployment is as an outside corner in a defense that majors in press-man. If he adds functional strength and keeps his technique disciplined he projects as a long-term starter with plus man-cover traits. If the athletic ceiling is tested by elite speed or he’s forced into heavy zone and run-fit duties, the profile shifts closer to solid CB2 rather than true shutdown.
COMPARISON
Quinyon Mitchell
BTB OVERALL RANKING
12th
CONSENSUS OVERALL RANKING
11th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)
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