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Jacksonville Jaguars NFL free agency spotlight: Should they re-sign S Andre Cisco?
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- Jacksonville Jaguars NFL free agency spotlight: Should they re-sign S Andre Cisco?
The Jacksonville Jaguars will have some decisions to make next week as numerous players are slated to become free agents at the turn of the new league year on March 12 at 4 p.m.
The team has a total of 15 players slated to become free agents , including 10 unrestricted free agents, two restricted free agents and three exclusive rights free agents.
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The list includes quarterback Mac Jones , who will likely see some attention as a backup QB candidate for several teams around the league. The Jaguars could opt to bring back the Jacksonville native if head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone deem it necessary.
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Jacksonville has just two quarterbacks slated to be on their roster at the turn of the new league year: Trevor Lawrence and John Wolford . C.J. Beathard is also slated to be a free agent.
Still, Jacksonville's top impending free agent comes from the other side of the football with safety Andre Cisco slated to hit the open market.
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Should the Jaguars re-sign safety Andre Cisco ?
Jacksonville Jaguars safety Andre Cisco (5) runs off the field before an NFL football matchup Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars held off the Titans 20-13. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Cisco, 24, was drafted by the Jaguars at the top of the third round in the 2021 NFL Draft under former general manager Trent Baalke and former head coach Urban Meyer.
Cisco began his career as a backup, rarely seeing the field in any capacity on game days. He started just three games to end the season before becoming the full-time starter under former head coach Doug Pederson and former defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell.
In his career, Cisco has started 47 games, playing in 63. He's accounted for 229 total tackles (154 solos), three tackles for loss, eight interceptions and 24 pass breakups.
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Cisco looked poised to make a significant leap in play in 2024 after posting good years in 2022-23, accounting for seven interceptions and 15 pass breakups over two years.
Last year, though, Cisco's play took a bit of a hit under new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. Nielsen's scheme and defense were the worst in the league (32nd) last year in the passing game, allowing 257.4 passing yards per game.
Cisco started just 14 games, and his snap percentage dived the New York Jets in Week 15 at 44.8%. For reference, Cisco's lowest defensive snap percentage was 90.1% against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 until Week 10 when Cisco saw just 66.7% of the defensive snaps.
He totaled 68 tackles (44 solos), seven pass breakups and just one interception last year. According to Pro Football Focus, Cisco scored a defensive grade of 58.8, the lowest of his career. His coverage grade was 56.7 due to rarely making plays on the football and allowing yards.
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Cisco's drop in play can be attributed in part to the change in defensive philosophy, but he has yet to reach his potential in Jacksonville through four years. This year's free agency class and draft offer plenty of help at the safety position, giving Jacksonville a clear path to move on.
What is Andre Cisco projected to command in free agency?
According to Spotrac, Cisco is in line for a prove-it deal on a one-year contract worth $10,779,945. That would put Cisco in line to earn the fourth-most among safeties next season, according to the salary cap management website.
Spotrac compared Cisco to players such as Amani Hooker , who signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Tennessee Titans in 2022 after his rookie deal.
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Who could Jacksonville replace Andre Cisco with at safety?
Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland (8) runs onto the field before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Jaguars have a slew of options in both free agency and the NFL Draft .
One player worth monitoring in free agency is Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland . Holland has ties to Jacksonville's coaching staff and is coming off a semi-down year in part due to injuries. Still, he's proven to be one of the top safeties in the league through his career.
In the draft, Jacksonville could move up from the second round, back into the first to select safety Nick Emmanwori out of South Carolina.
Either player would fit nicely in Jacksonville as the team looks to reshape the backend of their defense this offseason.
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Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars' Andre Cisco could command a lot in free agency
