How Saints helped force Chiefs to trade up with Browns for Mansoor Delane
The Saints might've helped the Browns get a nice haul for the No. 6 pick.
How Saints helped force Chiefs to trade up with Browns for Mansoor Delane originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Prior to the 2026 NFL Draft, there was plenty of buzz about a trade-heavy Round 1.
But after five picks, no trades were made. But thanks in part to the New Orleans Saints , that streak was broken. The Cleveland Browns traded down three spots with the Kansas City Chiefs , who traded up for LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
It was an aggressive move, but how did the Saints make the Chiefs swing a deal with Cleveland? According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler , the Chiefs were concerned the Saints would take CB with Delane as the clear top option, so they swung a deal to make sure New Orleans couldn't take the CB they had their eyes on. Saints forced Chiefs to trade up for Mansoor Delane "Kansas City's internal draft simulator suggested either Washington (No.
7) or New Orleans (No. 8) or both could be threats to pick Delane," Fowler writes. "In fact, Kansas City felt a strong pull that New Orleans' chances to go corner were at least decent despite the smoke around the Saints taking a receiver, which they ultimately did.