Cowboys might find solution for No. 20 draft selection in SEC's Cisse

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.

Brandon Cisse Pro day measurements

HT: 5-foot-11

WT-189 pounds

Arm Length- 30.3"

40-yard dash : 4.41 seconds

10-yard split: 1.53 seconds

20-yard split: 2.80 seconds

Vertical Jump: 41"

Bench press- 15 reps

Round Grade- Late 1st round to early 2nd round

Strengths

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.

Weaknesses

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.