The Jacksonville Jaguars are trying to put together a playoff-caliber roster. In order to do so, they had to move on from several players in free agency. Some of them were released while others simply weren't re-signed. Andre Cisco fits the latter category.
A mainstay of the Jags secondary the past three seasons, the Syracuse product bolted for the New York Jets. To replace him, the front office brought in Eric Murray. The move hasn't gotten great reviews, which begs the question, will Jacksonville regret letting Cisco leave?
Cisco was a ballhawk for the Orangemen, registering 13 interceptions and 14 passes defensed in 24 games. But despite his playmaking skills, injuries in 2018 and 2018 made him slide to Round 3 in the 2021 NFL Draft. Surprisingly, he managed to stay healthy in his rookie season but spent most of the year on the sidelines. It wasn't until late in 2021 that the New York native was given a chance. With Doug Pederson taking over the following year, he joined the starting lineup full-time.
The decision paid off, as Cisco went on to showcase the traits that made him a staple of the Orangemen secondary back in college, logging a combined 15 passes defensed and seven interceptions the next two seasons. This in turn made him an obvious choice for a breakout candidate in 2024.
But instead of having a career year, Cisco regressed in 2024. He wasn't outright dreadful but struggled to tackle and pass coverage. Then again, the Jaguars' defense as a whole struggled, so his regression is somewhat understandable, especially when you take into account that then-defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen rubbed players the wrong way with his arrogant demeanor.
Of course, Cisco isn't free of blame. He pointed fingers at his teammates last year, calling them out for quitting when he himself wasn't doing so well. Then again, it looks like he's leaving on good terms. Just recently, he posted a farewell on social media.
"DUVAL—thank you for 4 of the most transformational years of my life!" Cisco said on Twitter. "From ownership, to support staff, to my coaches, to our media team, and the special fanbase—I was immediately embraced by this city and organization. My teammates became my brothers and I'm forever indebted!"
DUVAL— thank you for 4 of the most transformational years of my life! From ownership, to support staff, to my coaches, to our media team, and the special fanbase— I was immediately embraced by this city and organization. My teammates became my brothers and I’m forever indebted! pic.twitter.com/bDauZzkYql
— Dre Cisco (@andrecisco7) March 21, 2025
It's not farfetched to think that Cisco will bounce back with better coaching. Heck, he might even become the player the Jaguars expected last year and he's confident in his skills, having signed a one-year, prove-it deal worth $10 million with the Jets.
If Cisco has a breakout season, he'll be a hot commodity in free agency next year.
Related story: AFC South free agency power rankings, where do the Jaguars land?
The Jaguars signed Eric Murray to replace Andre Cisco, will the move pay off?
Bringing in Eric Murray was most definitely cheaper than keeping Andre Cisco around, as the Jacksonville Jaguars gave him a three-year, $21 million deal. Then again, and as with most things in life, they got what they're paying for.
Murray, a fourth-round pick in 2016, has suited up for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cleveland Browns, and the Houston Texans, appearing in 124 games with 58 games. Simply, you don't last that long in the NFL, let alone start, if you aren't any good, so his longevity is certainly worth recognizing. Having said that, the former Minnesota Golden Gopher has only three career interceptions and 24 passes defensed.
There's clearly a dropoff from Cisco to Murray in terms of turnovers. That said, Murray is a solid tackler who will get the job done in the backfield. Moreover, he's not the long-term answer but rather a short-term fix at safety. The Jags could find his replacement in the draft this year or next and move on from him in 2026 without incurring a significant cap hit.
Of course, Cisco is a better player than Murray, but he didn't fit the team's vision, so they let him walk. Now, the past regime had a mixed track record of letting players walk. The Jaguars were fine without Calvin Ridley Zay Jones, or Jawan Taylor, but surely regret letting, Quincy Williams, Arden Key, and Darious Williams walk.
Which group will Ande Cisco join? It's probably too early to tell if the Jaguars dropped the ball, but they are surely hoping it won't be the latter.