The Kansas City Chiefs needed a new CB1 after moving on from Trent McDuffie this past offseason. Expecting a rookie to fill those shoes was a tall ask, but Mansoor Delane seemed to have all the traits to be Steve Spagnuolo's new defensive star.
Four weeks into the regular season for the Chiefs, but just two weeks and change for the rookie out of LSU, Delane is proving that he was worth the hype. He's led the team in tackles in consecutive games, making plays against the run and shutting down opposing pass-catchers in coverage.
While he gave up four catches for 56 yards, including a 27-yard completion, Delane was the Chiefs' best defensive player in Week 4. It's still early in his career, but he's starting to look like a superstar in the making.
Mansoor Delane is proving to be worth the hype and then some
Delane's NFL career started with some concerns. He spent most of training camp in a non-contact jersey, and there were legitimate doubts about his durability after missing most of the first two games of the regular season.
That said, while he hurt his shoulder in the first drive of his pro career, he did so while picking off Bo Nix. Even then, he showed what he was capable of right out of the gate, and the team held him out of Week 2 as a precaution, not because he couldn't suit up.
That means Delane has been the team's leading tackler in every game he's been fully healthy. He had nine tackles and one pass break-up in the win over the Raiders, including a two-play sequence when he stopped Ashton Jeanty behind the line of scrimmage before taking down Brock Bowers on the following snap.
Through four weeks, the sixth-overall pick has 17 total tackles, one pick, and two pass breakups. Per PFF, he's holding opposing quarterbacks to a 46.5 passer rating, even though he's given up nine catches on 15 targets. It won't be long before they stop testing his side of the field.
The Chiefs revamped their secondary in a single offseason, with Nohl Williams embracing a bigger role after a promising rookie season and L'Jarius Sneed returning to take on nickelback duties. The veteran has struggled, but the youngsters have stepped up for Andy Reid's team thus far.
Given the limited sample size and prior history, durability may remain a concern when discussing Delane. But football-wise, he's validated Brett Veach's decision to trade up three spots to get him early on in the first round of the NFL Draft.
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