Chiefs Rookie Cornerback Rated Low As DRoY Candidate

The Kansas City Chiefs drafted cornerback Mansoor Delane with the No. 6 pick in this year’s draft, and they’re expecting him to play right away and become a star. Stars win awards, but Delane was rated surprisingly low in this list of candidates for Defensive Rookie of the Year from a quintet of writers from ESPN. 

Pamela Maldonado did the work on the DRoY list, and she has Delane rated fifth. Given that, it’s worth looking at the other fouur players she named and examining the logic behind her selections. 

Sonny Styles, LB, Washington Commanders

Styles topped Maldonado’s list, and she used Washington’s usage plan to make her case for putting the linebacker in the top spot. Per Maldonado, Washington wants to take advantage of his blitzing ability after Styles generated pressure on 20 percent of his blitz opportunities at Ohio State. He also had the lowest missed-tackle rate among linebackers in this draft class. Styles was taken one pick after Delane, and Maldonado said that give him a way to use tackles, sacks and impact plays to make his mark. 

Arvell Reese, LB, New York Giants

Reese was taken one pick ahead of Delane, so cue the “chip on the shoulder” opportunities for Delane here. The case for Reese is a little sketchier, as the Giants don’t blitz much and Reese will be competing for snaps against Abdul Carter and Brian Burns. But Reese has versatility to offer, hence his position on this list. 

Dillon Thieneman, S, Chicago Bears

Thieneman is a long shot, as Maldonado admitted, but he does slot in right away as the Bears’ strong safety. He took 40 percent of his snaps in the box, she noted, so he’ll be around the ball a lot. He recorded 94 tackles in his final college season and missed just 7.8 percent, but the long shot part is that safeties rarely win this award. It should sting for Delane, who didn’t get much love in this part of the list. 

Caleb Banks, DT, Minnesota Vikings

Banks will start right away on a disruptive defensive line, and Maldonado noted that he has the size to become an immediate interior disrutor. But his college production was inconsistent, so she’s putting him here based in part on his upside. Banks may get some help from Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who could move him around to get more favorable matchups. 

As for Delane, the writer noted that only three cornerbacks have won this award this century. That’s a big mountain to climb, but the Chiefs are counting on Delane to at least make his mark right away.