S Andre Cisco projected to be Jaguars 2022 breakout player

There are a handful of young Jacksonville Jaguars players poised to have a breakout year in 2022. Trevor Lawrence is the most prominent one and the one with the biggest national profile but he’s far from the only one. On defense, outside linebacker Josh Allen is making the most noise ahead of the regular season but safety Andre Cisco deserves consideration. Adam Rank of NFL Media certainly believes so.

Rank has been talking about each NFL team’s “state of the franchise” ahead of the 2022 season and he recently took a look a deep look at the Jags. He believes Lawrence will be their Most Valuable Player on offense and thinks Cisco will be their breakout star. He points out that the previous regime didn’t put the former Syracuse Orangeman in a position to succeed but notes that the new one isn’t seemingly making the same mistake.

"The Jaguars invested a high draft pick in Cisco last season but never really gave the third-rounder much of an opportunity on the field. The new coaching staff does not seem to be making the same mistake. Both Pederson and defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell were impressed by Cisco during OTAs and minicamps. Cisco appears ready to be given a bigger role this season."

Cisco probably slid to the third round of last year’s draft because of injury concerns, having suffered a lower-body injury and torn ACL in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Although he had no setbacks and managed to stay healthy throughout 2021, he was relegated to a reserve role throughout most of the regular season and only got his chance when Andrew Wingard was placed on the COVID-19/Reserve List.

The Jaguars are taking a different approach with Andre Cisco in 2022

Last year, the coaching staff choose Wingard over Cisco before the start of the regular season.

They might once again compete for the starting job next to Rayshawn Jenkins, Cisco should have the edge.

After all, Wingard has had three interceptions over the last two seasons but he isn’t great in run support and his tackling skills are less than ideal. Moreover, Cisco showed flashes in limited action as a rookie and arguably has the higher ceiling of the two. Why not give him a shot and show him what he can do full-time?

Last year, Cisco played 245 defensive snaps, most of them towards the end of the year. He went on to force two fumbles and log 26 total tackles. Moreover, he nearly snagged an interception against the New York Jets in Week 16. The New York native is simply too talented to start another season on the bench.

Doug Pederson praised Cisco not long ago, and while he wants to see what the sophomore safety can do with pads on, it’s hard to see him not getting the chance he didn’t get in 2021.