With less than 24 hours remaining before the NFL Draft, the world is still unclear on what the Dallas Cowboys will do with their two first-round selections. Sitting with the 12th and 20th picks, Dallas can go in a multitude of directions with either choice. One viable at No. 20 is is Brandon Cisse, a cornerback from South Carolina.
Cisse is a former three-star cornerback from Sumter, South Carolina, who committed to play for the NC State Wolfpack. In 2023 and 2024 with the Wolfpack, Cisse accumulated 38 tackles (22 of which were solo), 5 pass deflections, and 1 interception across 23 games. Following the 2024 season, he entered the transfer portal and transferred to South Carolina. In his single season with the Gamecocks, he recorded 27 combined tackles (19 solo), five pass deflections, one forced fumble, and one interception. In early December of 2025, he declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
At the NFL combine, Cowboys reporter Tommy Yarrish disclosed an official meeting, giving Cisse the opportunity to reconnect with Cowboys' secondary coach Ryan Smith, who had previously recruited him from high school while Smith was at Virginia Tech.
South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse says he’s formally met with the #Cowboys. Dallas was his first formal meeting, and Cisse got two reunite with Cowboys secondary coach Ryan Smith, who recruited him out of high school while Smith was at Virginia Tech. pic.twitter.com/h2tdFVTZDm
Brandon Cisse is a CB prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.24 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 233 out of 3069 CB from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/H6HqMr1prV pic.twitter.com/4se6MoXRu3
Cisse is an agile and fluid athlete. His quick footwork and transitions allow him to mirror routes and remain in sync downfield. He has the length and strength to become more disruptive in jam and press receivers. He excels in zone coverage, effectively reading route combinations while keeping his eyes on the quarterback. Cisse demonstrates excellent timing, breaking on the ball and maintaining leverage.
Cisse is a dynamic and physically imposing cornerback; however, he has not demonstrated significant ball production. Over the course of his three combined seasons at NC State and South Carolina, he has recorded merely two interceptions. Furthermore, his aggressive style of play can result in him jumping routes, which creates recovery situations. He requires additional bulk to consistently contend with bigger receivers.
Cisse has demonstrated all the physical attributes necessary to become an excellent player in the cornerback position in the NFL. His optimal fit would be within a press-man or match zone scheme, allowing him to excel early in his career. He will need to enhance his route recognition and strike a balance with his aggressive playing style. Initially, he may begin his career as a rotational outside corner, but this will likely change sooner rather than later. In the right system, he would excel as a boundary corner due to his physicality and readiness to assist in run support through tackling.
It is essential to have quality depth and potential starter cornerbacks. Cisse has the potential to fulfill that role. Considering the presence of DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel Jr., who faced injuries last year, it is important to note that the situation is not guaranteed to remain stable. The team has also acquired former Rams corner Cobie Durant and welcomed back Reddy Steward. This team could benefit from a physical corner like Cisse, who possesses scheme versatility, a valuable asset in defensive coordinator Christian Parker's defense. His skill set would be ideally suited for him to play as a boundary corner for the Cowboys.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Brandon Cisse scouting profile for Cowboys No. 20 draft pick