Speedy cornerback Brandon Cisse is flashing elite athleticism and a polished work ethic, proving why the Green Bay Packers invested a second-round pick in the raw South Carolina standout.
The Green Bay Packers aren't going to rush rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse onto the field in 2026.
The Packers never rush rookies into action unless they really need to, so that statement has nothing to do with Cisse. It's also worth noting that outside of being a rookie quarterback, being a rookie corner in the NFL is arguably the hardest thing in the league to do.
If Cisse were still with the South Carolina Gamecocks, he'd be focused on locking down the top wide receiver at Kent State. If he were the CB1 for the Packers when the 2026s season kicks off, he'd instead be tasked with trying to shut down Justin Jefferson.
The NFL is just a different beast and it takes time for even the best rookies, so to expect too much too soon from Cisse would be a fool's errand. There's a reason the Packers are rolling with Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine at CB1 and CB2, respectively, to start the year.
Pick No. 52 in this past draft just needs some time to acclimate, and that's okay. That's just life in the NFL as a rookie.
And yet, head coach Matt LaFleur did recently reveal that he's seen some nice things from Cisse at OTAs. LaFleur was clear that he understands making plays in shorts and a T-shirt really isn't the same as playing NFL football, but the initial looks from Cisse have been good.
“I think I heard Dan Campbell talk about these guys in pajamas, so until you get the pads, you never truly know,” LaFleur said last week, according to Bill Huber. “But in terms of just athletically, there’s no doubt he’s got the skill-set. That’s pretty evident when he was coming out in the draft."
Green Bay Packers cornerback Brandon Cisse (2) jogs to the next warm-up station during practice on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at the Don Hutson Center in Ashwaubenon, Wis. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-WisconsinCisse was selected because of his athleticism and speed. He ran a blazing 40-yard dash of 4.41 seconds at South Carolina's Pro Day. He has a 41-inch vertical jump.
He had only two interceptions in college so he's undoubtedly an unfinished product. With that said, he did notch 10 pass breakups over his last 21 college games. He's also more than willing to come up and make plays at the line of scrimmage as a run defender.
The Packers didn't select Cisse because of what he did in college. They selected him because he has all the pieces you look for in a CB1 in the NFL. There are also the intangibles that matter for a rookie in the league, and Cisse has passed those tests with flying colors.
“And then just the attitude, the effort, the preparation, the things that he’s in control of, I think he’s done an outstanding job," LaFleur said. "He had a great play yesterday (Monday) as a cloud corner, so I think he’s doing a lot of good things.”
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