The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to overhaul their secondary once again this offseason, especially after Mike Tomlin announced that he would step down as the team’s head coach. That means players like Jalen Ramsey, Brandin Echols, and James Pierre could all be gone this offseason with a new regime coming in.
The good news is that Pittsburgh already has its No. 1 cornerback on the roster with Joey Porter Jr., as he took some major strides forward in 2025. The season started a bit rocky with Ramsey and Darius Slay playing ahead of him, but by the end of the year, he was the best defensive back on the roster.
But now it’s time to find him a running mate and someone who can be paired with him for the next several years. Luckily for Pittsburgh, the 2026 NFL Draft is loaded with cornerback talent, and the Steelers might be in a prime position to grab a top-ranked defensive back in Round 1. So without further ado, here is our scouting report on one of the nation’s top-ranked cornerbacks, Mansoor Delane from LSU:
LSU CB Mansoor Delane 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Height: 5111
Weight: 190 pounds
Expected 40 Yard Dash Time: 4.42-4.46
Recruiting: 3-star recruit, No. 55 ranked cornerback nationally.
College Production: 191 tackles, 27 pass deflections, 8 interceptions and 7 tackles for a loss.
Positives:
- Super loose player who can mirror the top wide receivers in the country.
- Excels in off-man coverage and can quickly drive on the football. One of the best click-and-close cornerbacks in the draft.
- Was not called for a single penalty during the 2025 season.
- Did not allow a single touchdown in 2025 and allowed just two receptions of 20+ yards.
- Made huge strides from his 2024 season where he allowed seven touchdowns and committed four penalties.
- Racked up a bunch of tackles over the last two seasons due to physical mindset despite substandard measurables.
- Plays with an attitude and is naturally aggressive. Has a junkyard dog mentality.
Delane has the right attitude for a cornerback, and that can go a long way. He doesn’t grab receivers at the top of their routes and uses his quickness and flexibility to stay close. Delane contests everything and has plenty of experience playing in both man and zone coverage. Teams searching for a well-rounded cornerback with plenty of big-game experience should fall in love with Delane.
Negatives:
- Well Below-average length (30” arms) for a cornerback. Didn’t give him many issues in college, but could be a big deal in the NFL.
- Needs to add more bulk. Could get bullied by bigger receivers on the outside.
- Lack of long speed is noticeable on longer developing routes. 40-yard dash time will be key at the NFL Combine.
Cornerback is a stopwatch position, and unfortunately, Delane has less-than-ideal numbers for a first-round pick. His lack of length will always be an issue, and some bigger receivers in the league could give him trouble. He can be boxed out by bigger weapons, and players with long speed could be an issue for him at the next level.
Mansoor Delane NFL Player Comparison: Vikings CB Byron Murphy
Byron Murphy was widely considered a first-round prospect coming out of Washington, but he fell to pick No. 33 after running a 4.55 40-yard dash. But since his poor 40-time, Murphy has become one of the better cornerbacks in the league, starting 96 games since 2019.
Delane won’t run nearly as slow, but he could fall a bit due to less-than-desirable measurables. Both players are slightly undersized to play on the outside, but make it work due to their quick feet and ability to mirror receivers.
Mansoor Delane Fit With Pittsburgh Steelers
Delane couldn’t be a better fit with the Steelers for a variety of reasons. His ability to play in the slot and on the outside is perfect for a team that already has Joey Porter Jr. on the outside. And while his long speed is certainly a question, he just fits the mold of a Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback with his physicality and ability to challenge everything underneath.
Mansoor Delane NFL Draft Grade: Top 20 Selection
If Delane had two-inch longer arms and run a 4.42 at the NFL Combine, we would be talking about a player who has a chance to be the first defensive player selected in April. But he doesn’t have those measurables, and unfortunately, the cornerback position relies heavily on size and speed.
But despite average numbers, Delane has everything else you would want from a cornerback. He is a Day 1 starter and projects as a high-end No. 2 cornerback who is always around the ball. There are certain schemes and defenses that might have him ranked lower, but he just doesn’t allow much in coverage and doesn’t get penalized. For that reason alone, he should be drafted in the middle of Round 1.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to overhaul their secondary once again this offseason, especially after Mike Tomlin announced that he would step down as the team’s head coach. That means players like Jalen Ramsey, Brandin Echols, and James Pierre could all be gone this offseason with a new regime coming in.
The good news is that Pittsburgh already has its No. 1 cornerback on the roster with Joey Porter Jr., as he took some major strides forward in 2025. The season started out a bit rocky with Ramsey and Darius Slay playing ahead of him, but by the end of the year, he was the best defensive back on the roster.
But now it’s time to find him a running mate and someone that can be paired with him for the next several years. Luckily for Pittsburgh, the 2026 NFL Draft is loaded with cornerback talent and the Steelers might be in a prime position to grab a top-ranked defensive back in Round 1. So without further ado, here is our scouting report on one of the nation’s top ranked cornerbacks; Mansoor Delane from LSU:
LSU CB Mansoor Delane 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Height: 5111
Weight: 190 pounds
Expected 40 Yard Dash Time: 4.42-4.46
Recruiting: 3-star recruit, No. 55 ranked cornerback nationally.
College Production: 191 tackles, 27 pass deflections, 8 interceptions and 7 tackles for a loss.
Positives:
- Super loose player who can mirror the top wide receivers in the country.
- Excels in off-man coverage and can quickly drive on the football. One of the best click-and-close cornerbacks in the draft.
- Was not called for a single penalty during the 2025 season.
- Did not allow a single touchdown in 2025 and allowed just two receptions of 20+ yards.
- Made huge strides from his 2024 season where he allowed seven touchdowns and committed four penalties.
- Racked up a bunch of tackles over the last two seasons due to physical mindset despite substandard measurables.
- Plays with an attitude and is naturally aggressive. Has a junkyard dog mentality.
Delane has the right attitude for a cornerback and that can go a long way. He doesn’t grab receivers at the top of their routes and uses his quickness and flexibility to stay close. Delane contests everything and has plenty of experience playing in both man and zone coverage. Teams searching for a well-rounded cornerback with plenty of big-game experience should fall in love with Delane.
Negatives:
- Well Below-average length (30” arms) for a cornerback. Didn’t give him many issues in college, but could be a big deal in the NFL.
Cornerback is a stopwatch position and unfortunately, Delane has less-than-ideal numbers for a first-round pick. His lack of length will always be an issue and there are some bigger receivers in the league that could give him trouble. He can be boxed out by bigger weapons and players with long speed could be an issue for him at the next level.
Mansoor Delane NFL Player Comparison: Vikings CB Byron Murphy
Byron Murphy was widely considered a first-round prospect coming out of Washington, but he fell to pick No. 33 after running a 4.55 40-yard dash. But since his poor 40-time, Murphy has become one of the better cornerbacks in the league, starting 96 games since 2019.
Delane won’t run nearly as slow, but he could fall a bit due to less-than-desirable measurables. Both players are slightly undersized to play on the outside, but make it work due to their quick feet and ability to mirror receivers.
Mansoor Delane Fit With Pittsburgh Steelers
Delane couldn’t be a better fit with the Steelers for a variety of reasons. His ability to play in the slot and in the outside is perfect for a team that already has Joey Porter Jr. on the outside. And while his long speed is certainly a question, he just fits the mold of a Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback with his physicality and ability to challenge everything underneath.
Mansoor Delane NFL Draft Grade: Top 20 Selection
If Delane had two-inch longer arms and ran a 4.42 at the NFL Combine, we would be talking about a player who has a chance to be the first defensive player selected in April. But he doesn’t have those measurables, and unfortunately, the cornerback position relies heavily on size and speed.
But despite average numbers, Delane has everything else you would want from a cornerback. He is a Day 1 starter and projects as a high-end No. 2 cornerback who is always around the ball. There are certain schemes and defenses that might have him ranked lower, but he just doesn’t allow much in coverage and doesn’t get penalized. For that reason alone, he should be drafted in the middle of Round 1.