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Chiefs rookie Delane practices injured; cornerback spot tight

7/26/2026

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Summary

Delane Impresses

Mansoor Delane, Chiefs rookie cornerback, practiced at the St. Joseph camp in a yellow jersey because of a shoulder injury.
He ran 7-on-7 reps at both corner positions and smothered undrafted rookie receiver Jeff Caldwell along the perimeter.
Defensive coordinator Matt Spagnuolo said Delane will be a coaching focus after the rookie noted ups and downs on day one.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw a top pass of the day, targeting Delane.

Summary

Chiefs Trim

Chiefs face a crowded cornerback group with only one roster spot left for bubble players.
Former first-round pick Kaiir Elam, who has played 43 NFL games, is battling for the final boundary corner slot.
Versatile backs D’Arco Perkins-McAllister and Zelmar Vedder are being evaluated for corner and nickel roles.
GM Brett Veach’s record of turning overlooked defensive backs into contributors raises the stakes of the cuts.

History

Historical Context

In 1995 the Dallas Cowboys added Deion Sanders and three undrafted defensive backs for $1.2 million, finishing with a league-leading 28 interceptions and winning Super Bowl XXX. That low-cost, talent-focused model echoed the early-1990s draft strategy that turned Dallas into a dynasty. Chiefs GM Brett Veach hopes rookie Mansoor Delane and veteran Kaiir Elam can replicate the approach for Kansas City.

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Delane Impresses

Mansoor Delane, Chiefs rookie cornerback, practiced at the St. Joseph camp in a yellow jersey because of a shoulder injury.
He ran 7-on-7 reps at both corner positions and smothered undrafted rookie receiver Jeff Caldwell along the perimeter.
Defensive coordinator Matt Spagnuolo said Delane will be a coaching focus after the rookie noted ups and downs on day one.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw a top pass of the day, targeting Delane.

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