If the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to add speed, toughness, and long-term upside to their secondary in this year’s draft, South Carolina’s Brandon Cisse might just be their guy.
There’s no clear-cut direction for Tampa Bay’s first-round pick this year-no locked-in position group or consensus name. But one thing feels certain: defense should be the priority. And with good reason.
The Bucs are facing some big-picture questions on that side of the ball. Up front, Vita Vea is on the wrong side of 30, and while Calijah Kancey has flashed serious potential, his durability is already raising concerns.
On the edge, there’s talent-YaYa Diaby had a breakout year-but depth is a real issue. And at linebacker, Lavonte David remains a steadying force, but at 36, the team has to start thinking about life after him.
But perhaps the most intriguing need lies in the secondary. And that’s where Cisse enters the conversation.
In ESPN’s latest mock draft, analyst Matt Miller has the Bucs selecting Cisse in the first round-a move that would signal a commitment to both athleticism and long-term development on the back end.
Now, Cisse isn’t coming off a season loaded with accolades. He didn’t make any All-America teams, and he wasn’t even named All-SEC. But don’t let the lack of hardware fool you-his tape and measurables tell a much more compelling story.
At 6-foot, 190 pounds, Cisse brings the kind of size and length that allows him to get physical at the line of scrimmage. That’s a trait that’s increasingly valuable in today’s NFL, where corners are asked to match up with elite receivers in press coverage and still hold their own in the run game.
Speaking of which, Cisse’s run defense is already turning heads. Pro Football Focus gave him an 89.2 grade in that department-11th-best among all cornerbacks in the country.
That’s not just solid; that’s elite for a player at his position.
And then there’s the speed. Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers couldn’t stop talking about it last summer, and it shows up on film. Cisse can close space in a hurry, whether he’s tracking a receiver downfield or crashing in on a screen.
In coverage, he’s held his own against top competition. Quarterbacks posted a 78.9 passer rating when targeting him last season-a number that’s well below average and speaks to his ability to limit big plays.
According to Miller, Cisse projects better in man coverage than zone, which raises some questions about scheme fit in Tampa. Todd Bowles leans heavily on zone concepts, but he’s also not afraid to mix in aggressive blitz packages that ask corners to be physical and disciplined.
That could play right into Cisse’s strengths, particularly his willingness to support the run and get involved in the action.
Of course, how much the Bucs prioritize cornerback in the first round may ultimately hinge on what happens with Jamel Dean. The veteran corner is set to hit free agency in March, and while he was arguably Tampa’s best defensive player last season, it’s unclear whether the front office is committed to bringing him back. If Dean walks, the urgency to find a high-upside replacement skyrockets.
Cisse might not be the most decorated name on the board, but his combination of speed, size, and physicality gives him the tools to develop into a high-level NFL starter. And if the Bucs are looking to build a defense that can grow alongside its young offensive core, investing in a player like Cisse makes a lot of sense-especially in a division where shutting down the pass will be key to staying competitive.