Green Bay Packers rookie Brandon Cisse was an intriguing prospect from the jump. SEC cornerback. Physical tools to burn. Only turned 21 in July. Decent-enough technique to be pressed into duty as first-year pro if need be.
Well, the Packers are putting their trust firmly in Cisse as a first-team cornerback, which underscores his obvious CB1 potential. He was always going to beat out either Keisean Nixon or Carrington Valentine.
I'm surprised Cisse is as far along as he is, considering a viable vet in Benjamin St-Juste is on the roster. In any event, don't expect too many rookie speed bumps from Cisse, because the rest of the NFL appears very high on him.
Brandon Cisse cracks a prestigious 'Future Hits List' that suggests he'll hit the ground running in Green Bay
After surveying NFL personnel types, beat writer colleagues and studying players for herself, The Athletic's Jordan Rodrigue compiled a list of 15 non-first-round rookies who look like future hits already. Brandon Cisse was part of the exclusive club, as Rodrigue mentioned he was thrown into the fire right away on Day 1 of training camp to get some starter's reps.
An NFC executive had this to say to Rodrigue about Cisse, while another AFC scout called him "sticky" in man coverage:
"LEGIT movement for a near-6-foot corner, even in a few preseason reps. Seems like he shored up a corner spot for them."
Rodrigue praised Cisse's man coverage chops and also highlighted his ability to tackle in run support. That all-around skill set is probably what allowed him to ascend the depth chart so fast despite his first-year status and youth.
It's very much in play that Cisse winds up being one of the absolute steals of the 2026 NFL Draft. In fact, the Packers' rookie class is looking pretty darn good overall, especially considering the Micah Parsons trade left them without a first-round pick to work with.
Cisse and fellow NFL frosh, defensive tackle Chris McClellan, will have big roles to play in Week 1's NFC North showdown with the Vikings in Minnesota.
Much of the defense's success will hinge on how well Cisse and McClellan can fare, and whether they can avoid the rookie wall or being too discouraged by the inevitable adversity that strikes when the lights come on in the NFL.
Anyway, it's pretty awesome to see such a massive consensus of prominent pro football figures be so bullish on Cisse this soon. There's a real chance he eclipses Nixon as Green Bay's CB1 in short order, and the better McClellan plays, and the sooner Parsons returns, the easier Cisse's job will get. And the more confidence he's likely to gain.
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