Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

MEASURABLES/PRO DAY:

Height: 5’11 ¾”

Weight: 189 lbs.

Arms: 30 ¾”

40 Time: 4.41 seconds

10-yd Split: 1.53 seconds

Vertical: 41”

Broad: 131”

RAS: 9.24

VIDEO:

NFL SCOUTING REPORT:

Here's what Lance Zierlien of NFL.com had to say about Cisse: "Teams will be willing to take a chance on Cisse’s explosive athleticism and upside, but a refinement runway might be needed to smooth some of the rougher edges. He’s scheme-versatile in coverage and is an A-rated run supporter. Work ethic and athletic testing will work in his favor. However, a lack of instincts and break anticipation could cost him in coverage against quality route runners. His press will become a more effective weapon with technical work and his route recognition should improve with more reps. Cisse’s traits and competitiveness are clear selling points, but a lack of on-ball production and coverage consistency create a more volatile floor."

Here's what Dane Brugler of The Athletic had to say about Cisse: "An explosive athlete, Cisse plays with excess burst and speed to fly to the football. He tends to declare his hips early and relies too heavily on his athleticism rather than his technique or anticipation, leading to coverage losses. When he finds the football, he is capable of impressive athletic feats to knock it away, but he needs to be more consistent with his body phasing to shrink catch windows. Despite needing to clean things up in the run game, his downhill toughness is great to see. Cisse is an unrefined, promising cover athlete with the twitched-up movements and speed to become an NFL starter. However, his pro ceiling will be determined by the development of his route recognition and ball skills. He offers inside-outside versatility with special teams (gunner) upside."

Here's what the scouts told @BobMcGinn about Brandon Cisse, the newest #Packers cornerback.

"If he gets beat, he can catch up. He’s what you’re looking for. He’s got real quickness. He’s better than Terrell. He’s more physical. He’s meaner.” https://t.co/8hvuiX985y pic.twitter.com/HZ7Egcm5lJ

— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) April 25, 2026

FIT WITH THE PACKERS:

Per the Cheesehead TV Draft Guide, "Brandon Cisse’s aggressive style fits well in a defense run by Jonathan Gannon. Gannon’s system values aggressive physical corners who challenge receivers early and maintain disciplined coverage. Cisse’s ability to disrupt releases at the line of scrimmage aligns with that approach. His length and speed help him stay connected downfield and compete at the catch point. Cisse also brings a physical presence in run support, attacking downhill, and engaging the ball carrier when plays move outside. That is something that has been lacking from the Packers' cornerback room."

CAREER NOTES:

Cisse was a three-star recruit out of high school and the 51st-ranked cornerback in the 2023 class, so he didn't exactly have programs lining up at the door to sign him. Most of his offers were from mid-major schools. Cisse shared, “I begged my mom for $150 to attend the camp at N.C. State, and I promised her I’d make it worth it. I definitely did.” That became Cisse's first Power 5 offer, and he committed almost immediately.

Cisse spent his first two years at N.C. State mostly working as a reserve and special teams contributor. He decided to enter the transfer portal after his sophomore season. Cisse signed with South Carolina, his father's Alma mater. Cisse earned himself a starting role at South Carolina, but there is one caveat worth noting: he only played 41 snaps per game. Despite limited production, Cisse declared for the NFL draft after his junior season.

COMMENTARY: 

With their first pick, the Packers went right at one of their most pressing needs — and they did it with a player who jumps off the page athletically - Brandon Cisse. The first trait that jumps off the page for Cisse is a 41-inch vertical and a 10'11" broad jump. He also has the speed to match. He checks nearly every box the Packers use when evaluating cornerbacks, with the only mild blemish being a 4.33 shuttle time - something Brian Gutekunst was clearly comfortable looking past that for a player with this kind of physical profile. 

What makes Cisse especially intriguing is that he doesn't turn 21 until July. While he certainly could come in and contribute right away, he's far from a finished product. This pick is more about projection than production. An AFC scout shared this note about Cisse: “You draft him more for tomorrow’s tools and not for today’s tape. The bad reps are going to get corrected. I like his makeup and his speed.”

Cisse's time in the SEC was brief, but he held his own against strong competition and continued to develop throughout the season. Cisse is a physical corner. He's more than willing to challenge receivers at the line of scrimmage to disrupt releases and timing, which should fit in well in Jonathan Gannon's defense. Cisse also has the instincts and willingness to trigger downhill to come up and help against the run - something the Packers would love to see from their cornerbacks. His technique needs some work, but that's a coachable problem when the tools are this good.

Packers' national scout Mike Owen highlighted Cisse's versatility - he can play both inside and outside, and he can play either zone coverage or man-to-man. Cisse echoed that, stating, "Whatever the Packers need me to do, I can do it. That's the good thing about it. Whatever they need me to do, I'll be able to play it."

Cisse already has multiple connections to Green Bay. Current cornerback Keisean Nixon also went to South Carolina, and the two have been in touch. Cisse noted that he's looking forward to learning from the veteran corner. Off the field, Cisse's girlfriend's family is from Wisconsin, and they are big Packer fans. Stock up.

These draft moments never get old pic.twitter.com/jiE5qYXleV

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 25, 2026