How Kansas City’s Peter Woods and Mansoor Delane plan to improve each other originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Kansas City Chiefs made two first-round picks on the defensive side in the 2026 NFL Draft, and somehow, both of them are already thinking about how to help the other one produce.
LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane went to Kansas City at sixth overall after the Chiefs traded up from No. 9 to land him, beating out the New Orleans Saints, who were reportedly lurking at that spot.
Kansas City turned around and picked Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods at No. 29. Two first-round picks on the same side of the ball, in the same draft, walking into the same building.
Already simpatico before camp starts
And according to Woods, they already have a system figured out. Asked about his friendship with Delane during the Chiefs’ rookie minicamp, Woods kept his explanation compact: “I help him get interceptions and he helps me get sacks, we just keep it that simple.”
#Chiefs rookie DT Peter Woods on his friendship with CB Mansoor Delane 🗣️
“I help him get interceptions and he helps me get sacks, we just keep it that simple” pic.twitter.com/L99jIJIK7Y
— SleeperChiefs (@SleeperChiefsKC) May 2, 2026
Kansas City addressed two real roster holes with these picks. After trading Trent McDuffie and letting Jaylen Watson walk in free agency, Delane walks into a CB1 role with the path largely clear in front of him.
Woods enters as an interior rusher playing alongside Chris Jones, one of the best at drawing double teams in the league, which should create single-coverage opportunities for the rookie from day one.