Chiefs lock in Delane and Woods, ensuring full rookie class is under contract for minicamp

The Kansas City Chiefs used the final day before mandatory minicamp to put their first two 2026 draft picks under contract, signing cornerback Mansoor Delane and defensive tackle Peter Woods on Monday, June 8. The move matters because it ensures the Chiefs’ entire 2026 rookie class will be eligible to participate when practice gets underway for the three-day mandatory minicamp that begins Tuesday, June 9.

Delane, the Chiefs’ first-round selection (Pick 6) at cornerback after Kansas City traded up from the Browns for the pick, agreed to terms on a four-year, fully guaranteed deal worth $41.9 million, according to NFL Network reporting as cited by ’s first-round signing tracker. Chiefs materials from the draft tracker describe Delane as a 5-foot-11 corner from LSU, and his presence gives Kansas City another highly rated young piece for the secondary as the installation phase of the offseason continues.

Woods, Kansas City’s first-round pick at defensive tackle (Pick 29) out of Clemson, also agreed to terms on Monday. The signing tracker lists the contract as four years with $18 million guaranteed, with the agreement date reported as June 8 and also attributed to ESPN’s reporting. On the Chiefs’ draft tracker, Woods is listed as a 6-foot-2, 298-pound interior defender, a profile that typically fits the kind of line burden coaches look for when they want to generate pressure from the middle without having to overextend edge rushers.

Delane and Woods were the last two members of the Chiefs’ 2026 draft class to come off the unsigned list going into minicamp, according to the report that prompted this story. The full rookie group Kansas City selected in April’s draft consists of seven players: Delane, Woods, plus edge rusher R Mason Thomas (Round 2, Pick 40), cornerback Jadon Canady (Round 4, Pick 109), running back Emmett Johnson (Round 5, Pick 161), wide receiver Cyrus Allen (Round 5, compensatory Pick 176), and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (Round 7, Pick 249).

From a roster-development standpoint, signing everyone ahead of a mandatory window reduces the amount of teaching time lost to contract timing. Mandatory minicamp is the first point in the offseason calendar where rookies can get a concentrated look at the full rhythm of the scheme and the daily expectations that come with a playbook-heavy environment. Even when a rookie is not expected to handle full-game roles immediately, having the whole class present allows coaches to evaluate communication, effort, and fit during structured team periods.

What to watch next is how quickly the Chiefs integrate their draft class into the practice mix. With minicamp starting June 9, Kansas City will have multiple sessions to see Delane and Canady in coverage groupings, Woods in interior rush and run-defense reps, and Thomas on pass-rush and edge-setting tasks. The offensive rookies will also get time to align their routes, timing, and protection responsibilities, with Nussmeier’s availability offering the staff another option for learning the quarterback mechanics the team uses in live periods.