Packers CB Brandon Cisse
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The Cornerback Conundrum: Can Brandon Cisse Revive the Packers’ Secondary?
The Green Bay Packers’ 2025 campaign was marked by unfulfilled promise. Their struggling secondary was a major contributor to their disappointing season, which ended with a Wild Card round loss to their arch-rival Chicago Bears.
One area where the Packers need significant improvement is at cornerback. The team lost several key contributors and is relying on untested talent. Brandon Cisse, the Packers’ second-round draft pick from South Carolina, figures to be a crucial piece of the puzzle. His collegiate career was marked by inconsistent production, but he made some impressive plays in his final season with the Gamecocks.
Cisse started all 12 games and finished with 27 tackles (19 solos), 1.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, an interception, and a forced fumble. However, Pro Football Focus graded him as 186th out of 896 qualifying cornerbacks overall, with a coverage grade of 71.2 leaving much to be desired.
The Packers’ struggles in pass defense last season are well-documented. They had just seven interceptions in 2025, tying for the fewest in franchise history and ranking 28th in the NFL. With Cisse joining a new-look group of cornerbacks that includes Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, and Benjamin St-Juste, significant improvement is expected.
General manager Brian Gutekunst has high hopes for Cisse’s ability to play off man or press coverage. “He’s one of the few guys that can play off man, that can play press,” Gutekunst said. “His suddenness through transition is something that stood out to us.” With his combination of size (5-11 ½, 189 pounds), speed (4.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash), and athleticism, Cisse has the potential to be a game-changer.
However, with significant resources invested into their secondary, including signing Benjamin St-Juste in free agency and selecting Cisse with their second-round pick, the pressure is on him to step up quickly. National scout Mike Owen noted that Cisse’s aggression could translate to success at the NFL level: “He’s aggressive with his hand combat, jarring the ball loose.” But can he deliver consistent play?
Only time will tell if Cisse lives up to expectations or falls short. His comments about adapting to the NFL scheme are encouraging, but ultimately, results on the field matter most. The Packers’ secondary has been a problem for far too long, and Cisse’s arrival is not a panacea.
As training camp approaches, all eyes will be on Brandon Cisse and the rest of the Packers’ secondary. Can they finally provide some stability and consistency in pass defense? Or will Cisse’s arrival only serve to highlight the team’s ongoing struggles? If he fails to make an impact, it could spell disaster for a Packers team already struggling to find its footing.
Reader Views
- ADAnalyst D. Park · policy analyst
While Brandon Cisse's draft pedigree and size-speed combination are intriguing, his lack of consistency in coverage is a concern. The Packers' defense was a top-heavy unit last season, and relying on untested talent to elevate the secondary could be a recipe for disaster. Gutekunst's high praise for Cisse's transition speed is promising, but it remains to be seen if he can translate that into effective plays against top-tier receivers.
- CMColumnist M. Reid · opinion columnist
Brandon Cisse's potential is undeniable, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here. We're talking about a player who graded 186th out of 896 qualifying cornerbacks in college, despite his flashy stats and athleticism. The Packers need more than just talent – they need cohesion and experience, especially after losing several key contributors. Gutekunst's high hopes are admirable, but it's still unclear if Cisse can make a seamless transition from small-school football to the big leagues. A slow adaptation could be disastrous for this already-weak secondary.
- RJReporter J. Avery · staff reporter
The Packers' secondary woes won't be solved by Brandon Cisse's arrival alone. While Gutekunst's praise for his versatility is well-placed, I'd caution against counting on him to anchor a unit that struggled with pass rush pressure last season. The team needs to find a way to get some semblance of a pass rush, whether it be through free agency or the draft, to alleviate the burden on Cisse and the other corners.