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DRAFT Opinion Philadelphia Eagles SAFETIES

DRAFT PROFILE: Andre Cisco, Safety, Syracuse

29 January 2021 DRAFT Opinion Philadelphia Eagles SAFETIES

Measurables: 6’0” 203 LBs

Andre Cisco is a 20 year old safety for the Syracuse Orange. Hailing from Queens, New York, Cisco attended St. Anthony’s High School in South Huntington, New York before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida prior to his junior season. Cisco committed to Syracuse prior to the 2018 season where he starred as a freshman. In 11 starts, Cisco recorded 60 tackles and seven interceptions, which tied him for the most in the nation. After the season, Cisco was recognized as the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and was named a freshman All-American and First-Team All-ACC. Cisco started nine games as a sophomore before injuries derailed him for the final three contests, finished with 65 tackles, five more interceptions and a touchdown. Andre will largely be remember by Orange Nation for his splash plays that he made every time he stepped on the football field. Andre is a ballhawk with plus size, speed and athleticism. While his production is exciting, it doesn’t come without warning. He is a loose cannon in coverage at times, which results in blown coverages. Cisco has all the room for growth but he must clean up his gap filling, tackling and route anticipation before he’s thought of as an elite safety. Cisco would do best in a split zone safety defense until his tackling and gap discipline develop, at which point he can assume the single high role.

Strengths

  • Size
  • Speed
  • Athleticism
  • Ball Skills

Weaknesses

  • Missed Tackles
  • Route anticipation
  • Run gap filling
  • Bites on pump fakes

NFL Comparisons

Earl Thomas. This is a lofty projection because Thomas is obviously one of the elite safeties in the NFL. He has great ball skills, is good in coverage and is a willing tackler, although not the best at it as his age has progressed. Cisco has something that not a lot of players have and that’s the confidence to go make a ball hawking play and get the turnover that the offense may be desperate for. What can’t be ignored is his poor run fills and mediocre tackling. Cisco has all the tools to grow into an impact starter in the NFL but there needs to be serious development if he is going to reach his ceiling.

Projection

Round 3-5. With Andre’s injury history being those of the lower extremity kind and there not being a combine and inconsistent regional medical screenings, expect him to take a tumble down draft boards. Teams are going to have to trust their tape on Andre, and probably have a plan B in case of injury, for him to be selected earlier than the third. Andre can come in and make an immediate impact in the passing game but his average level work against the run game will likely leave him off the field unless in a dime or nickel package.

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