LSU CB Mansoor Delane set to impact Saints’ first round plan

By Ross Jackson

Whether the New Orleans Saints decide to draft him at No. 8 overall or don’t get the chance to at all, it appears to now be a sure thing that LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane is set to have a significant impact on the Saints’ first-round draft plan. 

Already solidified as the NFL Draft’s top cornerback in 2026, Delane’s stellar Pro Day performance has now put him in position to be a top-10 selection. 

During the corner’s Monday showcase, Delane measured in at 5-foot-11, just a shade shy of 6-foot, and 184 pounds. After checking the NFL size box, the class’s top cover corner answered questions about NFL speed emphatically. 

Delane ran what LSU has listed as a 4.35-second 40-yard dash. Scouts in attendance clocked both of his runs at 4.38. In either case, a sub-4.4 time is enough to solidify Delane as not only the top cornerback off the board in April, but perhaps one of the top players altogether. 

Mansoor Delane’s 1st 40 yd dash

Official times not released yet, but one scout had him at back-to-back 4.38s#LSUProDay #JustDifferent pic.twitter.com/Igd5m9DiKc

— 104.5 ESPN (@1045espn) March 23, 2026

The Silver Spring, Md. native could be a true option to become the Saints’ first-ever LSU first-round selection. At No. 8 overall, New Orleans is likely to lean toward a premier position, such as cornerback, and will be looking for the best player available at the pick. 

That player could very well be Delane. 

He’d fit in immediately as one of the Saints’ top boundary corners, likely starting across from third-year cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, allowing for Quincy Riley, a standout rookie in 2025, to potentially move into the slot. 

However, Delane could have a more indirect impact on the Saints’ draft, as well. 

Should the LSU corner go off the board before New Orleans picks, another elite-level player could be pushed down to the Saints’ selection at No. 8. 

With other impactful plug-and-play options like edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and David Bailey, wideouts Carnell Tate, Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon and playmakers like safety Caleb Downs, linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles and running back Jeremiyah Love, Delane flying off the board early would help to leave an embarrassment of riches for the Saints to pick from as they open their 2026 draft.