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KC Chiefs’ top draft pick notably absent from NFLPA Rookie Premiere while Emmett Johnson, Garrett Nussmeier steal the spotlight
Apr 22, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; LSU Tigers defensive back Mansoor Delane during the NFL Draft prospects clinic at Hazelwood Green Park. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

KC Chiefs’ top draft pick notably absent from NFLPA Rookie Premiere while Emmett Johnson, Garrett Nussmeier steal the spotlight

Originally posted on A to Z Sports  |  By Charles Goldman  |  Last updated May 18, 2026 1:12 PM ET
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Kansas City Chiefs draft picks Emmett Johnson and Garrett Nussmeier were not joined by their teammate Mansoor Delane for the 2026 NFLPA Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles, California.

A pair of Kansas City Chiefs players were among those in Los Angeles over the weekend for the NFLPA’s 32nd annual rookie premiere event. The three-day event serves as the first organized point of entry into the NFL’s business side. They get to participate in photoshoots, autograph signings, jersey unveilings, and content creation sessions, and receive an orientation on everything involved in developing your brand in the NFL.

RB Emmett Johnson (Nebraska) and QB Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) represented the Chiefs at the event. However, they were initially supposed to be alongside another member of the team’s 2026 NFL Draft class.

Chiefs rookie CB Mansoor Delane absent from NFLPA Rookie Premiere

The NFLPA initially announced that Chiefs CB Mansoor Delane, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, would attend their 2026 Rookie Premiere event. He was one of just six defensive players expected to attend.

Delane was left off the NFLPA’s official player participant roster. He wasn’t visible in any event promotion. You can see Johnson and Nussmeier front and center in the league’s 2026 class photo. However, Delane is nowhere to be found.

Why did Delane drop out and not participate in the annual event? That remains a mystery. There are plenty of reasons players have dropped out in the past. It’ll certainly be something to monitor with the Chiefs’ first batch of OTAs slated for Tuesday, May 26.

Chiefs’ Emmett Johnson, Garrett Nussmeier steal the spotlight at NFLPA Rookie Premiere

While Delane was notably absent, the two rookies the Chiefs sent stole the spotlight throughout the event. Emmett Johnson and Garrett Nussmeier were prominent in the NFLPA’s social media promotion of the event, showing off their looks in full pads for the first time.

Johnson and Nussmeier worked directly with content partners such as Fanatics, Topps, EA Sports, Procter & Gamble, Funko, NFL Digital Media, New Era, and Microsoft.

Emmett Johnson and Garrett Nussmeier Quick Facts

Johnson (161 overall) and Nussmeier (249 overall) were both Day 3 picks by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2026 NFL Draft.

  • Johnson was the sixth running back selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
  • Nussmeier was the tenth quarterback selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

They also worked with product and activation partners such as Gatorade, Pepsi, SONY, Oakley, DNA Vibe, GLD, Pro Standard, Elevate Jet, EXOS, and TikTok

The collaborations helped Johnson and Nussmeier capture images and video that will fuel campaigns throughout the 2026 NFL season and drive meaningful engagement with their own personal brands.

They also got an opportunity to really show off their personality and aura through the lens of football.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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