All articles tagged with #brandon cisse
The Green Bay Packers signed cornerback Brandon Cisse and claimed wide receiver Brenden Rice off waivers from the Las Vegas Raiders; Rice, a USC product and 2024 seventh‑round pick, has spent time on multiple practice squads and injured reserve, and will wear No. 89 for Green Bay.
Packers insiders defend the 2026 draft and post-draft roster planning, spotlighting Brandon Cisse’s second-round addition, ongoing UDFA signings, and a WR group shaped by Reed and Doubs extensions, while weighing Lukas Van Ness’ fifth-year option and center versatility alongside the kicker trade, all framed as a concentrated, consensus-driven approach to building a balanced, competitive team.
Packers’ second-round pick Brandon Cisse is praised by South Carolina coach Torrian Gray as a true football junkie with elite football IQ and relentless work ethic, a player who transformed his body and shows strong run defense and potential in press-man and zone coverage; while his ball skills and turnover production are still developing, his intangibles and love of the game make him a strong fit for Green Bay under GM Brian Gutekunst.
Green Bay used six picks to restock key needs, trading up twice and addressing cornerback, edge, and kicking. The standout is CB Brandon Cisse at No. 52, a high-upside starter-in-waiting; Dani Dennis-Sutton at 120 offers an NFL-ready edge with big upside; Chris McClellan and Jager Burton project as potential long-term starters along the line; sleeper K Trey Smack could finally solve the kicking woes. The Packers’ strategy leans into attacking needs and maximizing upside despite a smaller draft haul, which could empower coach Jonathan Gannon’s defense and special teams for 2026 and beyond.
Green Bay entered the 2026 NFL Draft with eight picks but finished with six—the smallest class of GM Brian Gutekunst’s tenure and the smallest since 2004—after trading up twice and not having a first-rounder tied to the Parsons trade last year. The six selections are CB Brandon Cisse (52), DT Chris McClellan (77), EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton (120), IOL Jager Burton (153), CB Domani Jackson (201), and K Trey Smack (216). The picks are praised for value and versatility, with Cisse viewed as a potential future CB1, McClellan a versatile front-line contributor, Dennis-Sutton a standout value, Burton a potential interior starter, Jackson a versatile backup/special-teams option, and Smack providing a long-range kicking option to push McManus.
Green Bay GM Brian Gutekunst used six picks to address major needs and maximize value, including two cornerbacks (Brandon Cisse and Domani Jackson) and an edge (Dani Dennis-Sutton); grades ranged from A (Dennis-Sutton) to D (kicker Trey Smack), with mid picks McClellan (B), Burton (B-), and Jackson (B) contributing depth, while the trade-up for a kicker drew controversy and tempered the overall assessment.
Green Bay used Day 2 to upgrade at cornerback (Brandon Cisse at 52) and on the defensive line (Chris McClellan at 77 after moving up from 160). Heading into Day 3, they have five picks across rounds 4–7, including 153 acquired from Philadelphia; they may try to move back into late Round 3 or climb into Round 4, and remain eyeing edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton who is still on the board.
Green Bay capped Friday with a Jayden Reed contract extension and a Day 2 flurry of moves: drafting South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse at No. 52 and trading up to land Missouri DT Chris McClellan, signaling a focus on cornerback depth and interior run/pass rush. GM Brian Gutekunst also expressed optimism about Christian Watson as a long-term target and noted more selections remain for Day 3.
Green Bay used the 52nd pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to select South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse, a fast, leaping athlete praised at the combine; the Packers hope he pairs with Micah Parsons to bolster the defense for years.
Green Bay’s Day 2 picks drew strong analyst grades: cornerback Brandon Cisse (52nd) and defensive tackle Chris McClellan (77th after a trade-up) were praised for fit and potential. The Athletic gave A grades to both, Sporting News matched with A’s, and USA Today awarded Bs; Acme Packing Company voters heavily favored Cisse (87% A/B) over McClellan (51%). GM Brian Gutekunst suggested the team could move up into the early fourth round for another selection. At 20, Cisse brings off-zone coverage value, while McClellan addresses a defensive need, contributing to a generally positive reception of Green Bay’s Day 2 effort.
Green Bay GM Brian Gutekunst said the Packers attempted to back into the end of the third round on Day 3 of the 2026 draft but stayed flexible; after drafting cornerback Brandon Cisse in the second round, Green Bay traded up to select Missouri defensive tackle Chris McClellan, a versatile lineman who can nose tackle, play three-tech and rush the passer. The club also eyed Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr. as a potential late target and signaled confidence in paying wide receiver Christian Watson around $28 million per year after Jayden Reed’s extension, with the draft board remaining strong for further moves.
Green Bay selected Brandon Cisse in the second round (No. 52) to bolster its cornerback room. Described by scout Mike Owen as a smart, tough, physical defender with a notable run game presence, Cisse posted 10 pass breakups across his last 21 college games and had two interceptions in his career. At 20 turning 21, he faces a competition for the No. 2 corner spot with Keisean Nixon and others, and vows to take his game to another level in the NFL.
Green Bay selected South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse with the 52nd pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, adding depth at cornerback after his time at NC State and South Carolina (27 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 interception, 5 PBUs, 1 forced fumble in 2025 across 12 games). He posted a 41-inch vertical and ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at pro day, joining veterans Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Benjamin St-Juste in Green Bay's CB room.
The Green Bay Packers selected South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse with the 52nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, their first choice after trading away their first-rounder in the Micah Parsons deal. Cisse, a 6'0", ~189-pound rookie who ran a 4.46 40 at his pro day, transferred from NC State to South Carolina in 2025 and has measurables similar to Keisean Nixon. Nixon is expected to start in 2026, while Cisse will vie for the other outside cornerback spot with Benjamin St-Juste and Carrington Valentine.
The article previews Seattle’s pivotal No. 32 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after their Super Bowl win, notes the team currently has four total picks (32, 64, 96, plus Cleveland’s sixth-rounder) due to past trades, and lays out the first-round order. It aggregates multiple expert mock drafts, with cornerback depth a central theme as potential free-agent departures loom. Notable CB options mentioned include Brandon Cisse (South Carolina), Avieon Terrell (Clemson), Jermod McCoy (Tennessee), and Colton Hood (Tennessee), highlighting Seattle’s focus on restocking the CB room and shaping its draft strategy in Pittsburgh.