Feb. 3, 2026, 6:13 a.m. CT
Former LSU football cornerback Mansoor Delane is continuing to climb the prospect rankings as the NFL Draft cycle begins to heat up. He had arguably the best season of any Power Four cornerback in 2025, and despite some concerns about his length and athleticism, he continues to be selected in the top 15 of mock drafts.
ESPN’s Matt Miller published his two-round mock draft Monday morning, and he has Delane going off the board earlier than many recent mocks have predicted. Delane’s typical landing spot has been either 11th or 13th, joining the Miami Dolphins or Los Angeles Rams. Miller instead has him taken 10th, landing with the Bengals. This would place Delane alongside two fellow LSU legends in Cincinnati: Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase.
Delane would be a huge help to Cincinnati’s ailing defense, and this was a landing spot we highlighted in a recent piece detailing three draft fits for Delane. The Bengals have had one of the worst passing defenses in the league over the years, a problem Delane could quickly help remedy.
Cincinnati would still need additional help building a passable defense beyond simply adding Delane, but adding him to the mix would go a long way toward helping Burrow and Chase return to the Super Bowl.
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