Cisse is an athletic marvel at cornerback — explosive, fluid, and twitchy enough to stay hip-to-hip with any receiver in man coverage, but his processing and discipline haven't caught up to the body yet. He wins with elite closing speed, loose hips that swivel effortlessly, and a willingness to press at the line that disrupts timing, but he opens his hips too early, bites on double moves, and defaults to grabbing when he feels threatened. The ball production is alarmingly thin for a projected first-rounder (two career INTs in three seasons), and the 14.3% missed-tackle rate in 2025 tells you the tackling technique isn't just a footnote — it's a real concern. Still just 20 years old with only one full season as a starter, Cisse is the kind of bet that either pays off spectacularly with elite coaching or leaves a team waiting two years for the light to come on.
- Elite explosive athleticism — 41-inch vertical, 10'11" broad jump, and projected sub-4.4 speed give him recovery ability that bails out technique lapses
- Fluid hip movement and change-of-direction skills create sticky man coverage reps where he mirrors receivers through their entire route stem
- Closing speed and length at the catch point allow him to limit completions even when slightly out of position — 47.4% completion rate allowed in 2025
- Excellent run support for a corner — 89.2 PFF run-defense grade, 13 run stops, and legitimate downhill burst to trigger on screens and perimeter runs
- Extreme youth (turns 21 in July 2026) provides significant development runway that most prospects at this position don't have
- Ball production is a major red flag — only 2 interceptions and 10 PBUs across three college seasons, with production declining as the 2025 season wore on
- Zone coverage instincts are a liability — adding eye responsibility throws off his reaction time and he struggles to process multiple threats simultaneously
- Tackling technique is inconsistent and worsening — missed-tackle rate jumped from 3.4% in 2024 to 14.3% in 2025, with diving attempts and avoidance showing up on tape
- Opens hips too early on releases, making him susceptible to double moves and quick-breaking routes from nuanced receivers
Multiple sources compare Cisse to a young, raw corner with elite tools who needs significant refinement. The JustBlogBaby report specifically comps him to a Mitchell-type — explosive athlete with closing speed and catch-point disruption but lacking ball skills and route recognition at the same stage. The Steelers Depot comp to Trent McDuffie is aspirational ceiling; the realistic outcome is a physical, fast boundary corner who contributes in run support before the coverage clicks.