March 31, 2026, 8:00 p.m. CT
Mansoor Delane quickly became a fan favorite in Baton Rouge last season after transferring from Virginia Tech. The shutdown cornerback had an outstanding 2025 season, earning unanimous All-American honors and finishing as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. This remarkable season has him solidly in the running to be the first cornerback selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, jockeying with Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy for that spot.
The main concern with Delane throughout the draft process has been his size and athleticism, with some analysts fearing that these supposedly average traits might hold him back from becoming a top-tier pro. Recently, Delane eased some of those concerns by running a blistering 4.35 40-yard dash at LSU’s Pro Day.
Tiger fans obviously want to continue to root for Delane at the next level, and one thing would make that process even easier: if the New Orleans Saints took the former Tiger with the eighth overall pick in the draft.
While New Orleans has several needs that could result in them taking a different prospect with their first round pick, it appears that Delane is comfortably in the running. Saints cornerbacks coach Grady Brown worked with Delane during the drills portion of LSU’s Pro Day, as seen below:
A recent mock draft from USA Today’s Ayrton Ostly has New Orleans passing on the former Tiger, though, instead taking Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey off the board at eight. Ostly cited the Saints’ lack of depth at edge rusher as the primary reason for this decision, but looking at the Saints’ depth chart, their need for another corner is arguably more pressing.
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New Orleans lost cornerback Alontae Taylor in free agency, leaving their CB2 spot to Isaac Yiadom, who will be 30 years old this season. Yiadom is making backup corner money on this deal, and the Saints’ lack of additions at the position in free agency sure makes it seem like they’re interested in fortifying the position through the draft instead.
It certainly isn’t written in stone, but the Saints have a need at corner, and who better to fill the spot than an in-state favorite in Delane?