The Packers drafted South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse with the 52nd overall pick, their first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Green Bay Packers
made the most Packers-y move
possible with the 52nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, their first selection of the year. General manager Brian Gutekunst selected South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse
.
He is exactly what the Packers tend to like: Highly athletic, young (yet to be 21 years old), physical, with room for development.
Also, the pick addresses the most pressing need on the roster
. It's the first time since 2021 that the Packers take a cornerback before the seventh round of the draft.
78.9 passer rating when targeted (NFL standard numbers)
638 snaps as a boundary corner
204 snaps in the slot
1 interception in 2025
7 pass breakups in 2025
89.2 PFF run defense grade in 2025
Cisse has all the intangibles in the world to be the top cornerback in this year's draft. His acceleration and closing speed can match up with the NFL's best instantly and his vision makes him hard to trick and is a good bet to record the fastest 40-time of any cornerback this cycle.
He brings quite a bit of versatility to his game, with the ability to play both outside and inside positions. However, Cisse's more slender frame and weaker play-strength means bigger-bodied receivers can get the best of him in press-man and at the top of routes. At the end of the day, Cisse's raw technique in man coverage and tackling needs refinement, but his raw athletic talent is too good to pass up.
In a vacuum, this was clearly the biggest need on the roster - and it has been for two years. The Packers did sign Benjamin St-Juste
in free agency, but they also released Nate Hobbs
. The boundary situation is better as a consequence, but the overall situation of the depth is questionable at best. Beyond St-Juste, there are only Keisean Nixon
and Carrington Valentine
with meaningful NFL experience, and both have expiring deals. The Packers hadn't used a pick before the seventh round on a cornerback since 2021, and now was clearly the time to make it.
In a vacuum, this was clearly the biggest need on the roster - and it has been for two years. The Packers did sign Benjamin St-Juste in free agency, but they also released Nate Hobbs. The boundary situation is better as a consequence, but the overall situation of the depth is questionable at best. Beyond St-Juste, there are only Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine with meaningful NFL experience, and both have expiring deals. The Packers hadn't used a pick before the seventh round on a cornerback since 2021, and now was clearly the time to make it.
Grade: B+
