Brandon Cisse Was the Perfect Packers Faller

The Green Bay Packers selected cornerback Brandon Cisse out of South Carolina with the 52nd-overall pick – their first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Brian Gutekunst said during his pre-draft press conference that adding depth to the cornerback room was a priority, and he wasted no time addressing it.

Last season, Brandon Cisse allowed just a 47.4% completion rate during the 2025 season, paired with an 89.2 run defense grade. Add in his alignment versatility and his ability to quickly diagnose plays, and you get a well-rounded corner with a strong foundation to contribute early.

He came in at No. 42 on the consensus board, so getting him at 52 is really good value. He’s an elite athlete at a premium position, which makes the process behind the pick easy to buy into. Moreover, he won’t even turn 21 until July.

It’s hard to believe the Packers expected Cisse to still be available at No. 52. He truly felt like he was the top player on their board when they selected him. He brings the size and skillset to line up on the outside, which fills a need for Green Bay’s roster. With Javon Bullard settled into the nickel role, the focus had to be on boundary corners – and Cisse checked that box.

"Smart. Tough. Physical corner,” Packers scout Mike Owens said after Cisse’s selection. “Got good foot quickness. Can run. Just a lot to like about him, and he's wired right."

Some NFL scouts who spoke with draft analyst Bob McGinn also pointed to Cisse’s quickness as one of the defining traits of his game, highlighting how it consistently shows up in both coverage and his ability to react early in plays.

"If he gets beat, he can catch up,” a scout said. “He’s what you’re looking for. He’s got real quickness. He’s better than Terrell. He’s more physical. He’s meaner.”

Regardless of whether Green Bay adds more bodies to the room, Cisse should have a path to opening the 2026 season as a starter. Carrington Valentine was benched late in 2025 due to his struggles as a tackler, which opened the door for competition on the outside, an area where Cisse can immediately help. Run defense is a part of his game that he takes real pride in, and that physicality should only strengthen his case for early playing time.

"I pride myself in being able to put myself in the fit,” Cisse said while talking to reporters after being drafted. “ I'm excited for it. That's something that I love showcasing in my game, being able to be a complete corner."

At the same time, it’s worth remembering that Keisean Nixon earned his payday primarily because of his value as a returner, not for his play at corner, where he hasn’t exactly been consistent during his time in Titletown.

If Brandon Cisse lets his talent speak for itself, he should have a strong chance to open the season as a starter on the boundary. That said, the Packers have historically been careful about giving rookies full responsibility immediately, so a shared role early on wouldn’t be surprising. Still, when you look at the current cornerback room, he is the player with the highest ceiling and the best chance to develop into a true difference-maker.