Brandon Cisse is making serious noise in NFL Draft circles-and after a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, his stock is climbing fast. The former South Carolina cornerback is now being projected as a potential top-15 pick, with ESPN’s Matt Miller slotting him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 15 overall in a recent two-round mock draft.
That’s not just a nod to Cisse’s raw talent-it’s a reflection of how much teams value his skill set in today’s pass-heavy NFL. In Miller’s mock, Cisse is the fourth cornerback off the board, following LSU’s Mansoor Delane, Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy, and Colton Hood. That’s elite company, and Cisse has earned his place in it.
So what makes him such an appealing fit for Tampa Bay? For starters, the Bucs are in desperate need of defensive reinforcements.
According to Miller, if this were a full seven-round mock draft, Tampa might go defense with every pick-and honestly, that wouldn’t be a shock. A year after selecting wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in Round 1, the Bucs can’t afford to miss on a defensive playmaker this time around.
Cisse fits the bill. At 6-foot, 190 pounds, he’s got the physical tools to press at the line and disrupt routes early.
But it’s his technique and in-phase speed that really jump off the tape. He doesn’t just stick with receivers-he erases them.
Whether it’s tight man coverage or a more reactive role in zone, Cisse shows the kind of footwork, anticipation, and recovery speed that coaches love. He’s especially effective in contested catch situations, where his instincts and ball skills allow him to turn 50-50 balls into no-go zones for opposing receivers.
And while he’s best suited for man coverage, Cisse’s versatility shouldn’t be overlooked. Tampa Bay’s fire zone scheme demands corners who can both press and play off, and Cisse has the agility and mental processing to thrive in that system. His ability to recover and close space quickly makes him a strong fit for Todd Bowles’ defense.
Cisse’s production in his lone season at South Carolina backs up the film. After transferring from NC State, he logged 27 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and one interception. His most eye-popping game came against Vanderbilt, where he racked up five tackles and forced a fumble-showing his willingness to get physical and make plays in run support.
If he does go in the first round, Cisse would be the latest Gamecock to hear his name called early. South Carolina wideout Xavier Legette was selected No. 32 overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2024 NFL Draft, and the program had five players drafted overall last year. Safety Nick Emmanwori, who was taken by the Seattle Seahawks at No. 35, is now preparing to play in the Super Bowl.
Cisse is one of two South Carolina defensive backs headed to the draft this year, alongside Jalon Kilgore. With the NFL Combine set for February 23 through March 2 and the draft scheduled for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, Cisse will have plenty of opportunities to further solidify his first-round status.
For now, though, he’s firmly on the radar-and rising.