The cornerback position has been the Green Bay Packers have been struggling to solidify since the departure of Jaire Alexander a few seasons ago, and that has put even more pressure on second-round corner Brandon Cisse to perform right away.
That, combined with a strong start to training camp, has the hype train moving full steam ahead, to the point it can’t be slowed down.
With an injury to Carrington Valentine keeping him out of practice, Cisse has been working with the first-team defense in practices, helping his case in a battle to earn a starting spot ahead of Week 1. So far, the early returns have looked promising, particularly during one-on-one drills, where he looked like a blanket in coverage against second-year wideout Savion Williams.
Rookie CB Brandon Cisse in 1-on-1s today: pic.twitter.com/PbpSA0Z0Tu
— Kelly Hallinan (@kellyhals) August 4, 2026What’s more interesting is that some days of practice have included Cisse and Benjamin St-Juste playing with the first-string unit, while Keisean Nixon has spent time with the second team. Some of that could be due to a heavier workload early in camp for Nixon, but it could also suggest a strong start for both Cisse and St-Juste.
Head coach Matt LaFleur has already liked what he’s seen from the team’s second-round pick.
“I just love what he’s all about,” LaFleur told reporters last week. “He is an A-plus human, and he loves football. Every time he goes out there, there’s a lot of good things, and then there’s a lot of teachable moments. But I think he’s a guy that the sky’s the limit for him.”
There were plenty of reasons for Packers fans to be excited about Cisse before training camp even began. At just 21 years old, there’s still plenty of time for him to develop into a top-tier NFL cornerback with ideal size at 6-foot-0 and 189 pounds.
South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse is headed to Green Bay 🧀
Packers add a boundary CB at No. 52 pic.twitter.com/nteFS8raLJ
On top of the age and physical tools, Cisse’s tape showed flashes of a legitimate shutdown cornerback, allowing a catch on just 47.4 percent of targets last season with just one touchdown allowed in coverage.
It’s the perfect storm for a young player in Green Bay. The team’s first draft pick in this class, combined with a glaring need for a long-term CB1 on the defense and frustrations with incumbent starters like Nixon and Valentine, has created a situation where Packers fans are putting all of their hopes and dreams on a 21-year-old.
The good news is that he’s looking as good as advertised early in training camp.
Leave a Comment