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Chiefs Trade Up for CB Delane, Cleveland Gets OT Fano

4/25/2026

24 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Chiefs Trade Up

Chiefs traded up to No.6 in the 2026 NFL Draft, sending No.9, No.74 and No.148 picks to Cleveland and selecting cornerback Mansoor Delane.
Cleveland used the No.9 pick acquired from Kansas City to draft Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano.
GM Brett Veach said the trade, motivated by fear the Saints would take Delane at No.8 and by losing cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, would make Delane an immediate starter.

Summary

Delane Joins Chiefs

Delane admitted he started crying when the Chiefs called him in the first round.
He posted 45 tackles, 2 interceptions, 11 pass deflections and allowed only 14 catches on 357 snaps despite a core muscle injury.
He highlighted his unanimous All-American honor at LSU.
Delane called Kansas City “the best opportunity,” praised the franchise as a championship team and pledged to shut down the league’s passing attack.

Summary

Delane Gets Number

Chiefs announced cornerback Mansoor Delane will wear No. 5 and defensive tackle Peter Woods will switch to No. 99, linking them to former Chiefs who wore those numbers.
Number 99 was previously worn by defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (2019-2022), who is now a free agent.
GM Brett Veach said the trade up for Delane relied on data analytics predicting the Saints would select him, hinting at further trades.

History

Historical Context

When Commissioner Paul Tagliabue imposed a hard $34.6 million salary cap for the 1994 season, the NFL began forcing roster efficiency. The cap has risen to $224.8 million by 2023, shaping teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, whose $210 million budget led GM Brett Veach in 2026 to trade three draft picks for cornerback Mansoor Delane to pre-empt the New Orleans Saints.

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Chiefs Trade Up

Chiefs traded up to No.6 in the 2026 NFL Draft, sending No.9, No.74 and No.148 picks to Cleveland and selecting cornerback Mansoor Delane.
Cleveland used the No.9 pick acquired from Kansas City to draft Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano.
GM Brett Veach said the trade, motivated by fear the Saints would take Delane at No.8 and by losing cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, would make Delane an immediate starter.

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