Chiefs Lock In First-Round Defenders Mansoor Delane and Peter Woods With Rookie Deals

The Kansas City Chiefs have reached agreement with two of their 2026 first-round picks, signing cornerback Mansoor Delane and defensive tackle Peter Woods to four-year rookie contracts, according to the NFL’s first-round signing tracker. Delane, selected sixth overall, agreed to terms on a four-year, fully guaranteed $41.9 million deal on June 8. Woods, taken 29th overall, agreed to terms the same day on a four-year, $18 million guaranteed contract.

Delane’s path to Kansas City began with the Chiefs’ decision to trade up for a top-of-the-board corner. He arrives as an outside corner with recent college production that the Chiefs have highlighted as both productive and disciplined. In 2025 at LSU, Delane logged 13 passes defensed and two interceptions while allowing just 14 receptions on 357 coverage snaps, and the Chiefs’ team profile notes he battled a core muscle injury for much of the season. That season also produced a standout stat line in the Chiefs’ own write-up, with Delane allowing zero touchdowns and committing zero penalties.

The Chiefs’ coaching staff will likely view Delane’s skill set as a fit for their coverage assignments across the season’s variety of quarterback and receiver styles. While he played primarily outside in college, the Chiefs’ player bio also stresses his comfort playing in multiple spots, including the slot, which can matter for personnel packages against motion-heavy offenses. Delane’s draft position underscores how much Kansas City is investing in its perimeter stability, especially with the expectation that boundary corners can influence everything from throw timing to third-down play-calling.

Woods gives the Chiefs what their roster building has often emphasized alongside elite-level quarterback play, a defensive interior presence that can control space and free up pressure lanes. Kansas City chose Woods with the 29th overall pick, and his team profile from the Chiefs details a three-year Clemson stretch that included 24 starts and 84 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, and two forced fumbles. It also notes his size and athletic profile, listing him at 6-foot-2 and 298 pounds, with an emphasis on explosive traits and scheme versatility.

Woods’ versatility is not just a scouting phrase in Kansas City’s materials. The Chiefs’ bio notes he recorded snaps at multiple defensive front locations, including left defensive tackle, right defensive tackle, nose tackle, and left defensive end, plus additional edge-rusher work in 2024. That matters for a team that wants to keep its defensive looks from becoming predictable, because a defensive tackle who can function across roles gives the Chiefs more flexibility in how they structure run fits and pass-rush packages.

From a team-building standpoint, signing these contracts now means Kansas City can begin aligning offseason work with the roles each player is expected to handle on the field. For Delane, the immediate emphasis will be on learning a new ecosystem at full speed and converting his college-man and zone instincts into pro-level processing. For Woods, the focus will be on translating his interior traits into consistent pressure and run-stuffing impact from the snap. With both deals completed on June 8, the Chiefs’ offseason checklist shifts from “agreements reached” to “development delivered,” and the next step is how quickly these first-round defenders handle the technical and physical demands of training camp.