After a boring first day and round of the NFL draft, the Packers have begun their 2026 selection with cornerback Brandon Cissee from South Carolina. The Packers will have the chance to add one more player tonight at pick 84.
Analysis
Brandon Cisse is a 20 year old cornerback coming off of his Junior year as a South Carolina Gamecock. Only starting in his final year, he is inexperienced but has already proven to have the athleticism to compete at the position.
He fits the Packers typical threshold for cornerback at 5’11” and 189 lbs. What earned the attention of the league, and Brian Gutekunst during their combine visit, was his 9.29 relative athletic score.
Being inexperienced, he lacks many instincts in route recognition and in zone coverage but can make up for it with his athleticism. His lack of experience limited his ball production with only one interception in his final year of college.
Team fit
Gutekunst made it clear before the draft that cornerback was a focus for this year’s draft, making Cisse an excellent pick. As consensus player #45 and cornerback #5, he is also a good value pick for the Packers at 52.
Factors that likely drew the Packers interest included his athletic testing and his work ethic, which is the best feature to have in a raw draft talent. He also is a willing tackler in the run game, which is always a valued trait in Green Bay cornerbacks.
Cisse has all of the talent to be a good to great cornerback, but may need time to reach that ceiling. This is a familiar, and to some concerning, story for Packers draft picks. Even so, Cisse should have every chance to displace Kesian Nixon or Carrington Valentine as a starting outside corner for the 2026 season.
