Andre Cisco's lofty comparison and projection should thrill Jaguars fans

Throughout the offseason, Andre Cisco has been seen as a candidate to break out in 2024, and rightly so. A mainstay of the Jacksonville Jaguars defense, the fourth-year safety has gotten progressively better since he became a full-time starter in 2022. Based on his growth, he's poised to do great things, which is why an NFC coordinator expects him to have a fruitful NFL career.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN asked coaches, executives, and scout to help him identify the top 10 safeties in the NFL ahead of the 2024 list. Each voter submitted their best 10 players at the position. ESPN then compiled the results and ranked each candidate based on the number of top-10 votes. Cisco was left out of the top 10 but popped up as an honorable mention.

Discussing his inclusion in the ranking, the NFC coordinator cited Cisco's brought up his ballhawk skills, "He can generate turnovers at an elite level. He'll be a 30-plus career interception guy." He isn't wrong.

Back in Syracuse, Cisco was a big-play machine, registering 13 interceptions and 14 passes defensed in 24 games. His ballhawk skills have carried over to the NFL. Although he hardly got any playing time as a rookie, he forced a fumble when he was given a shot. Since becoming a starter in 2022, the Queens, New York native has amassed seven interceptions and 15 passes defensed.

Cisco has been so productive the last two years that Chris Trappasso of CBS Sports has gone as far as to compare him to former All-Pro safety Earl Thomas. However you look at it, that's the highest praise a player can get.

For context, Thomas was the 14th overall pick in the 2010 draft. He spent his first nine seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020. Throughout his career, the former Texas Longhorn started 140 games, registering 30 interceptions — the same amount Cisco is projected to have) — 71 passes defensed and 12 forced fumbles. He earned three First-Team All-Pro nods, two Second-Team, and seven Pro Bowl selections.

If that wasn't enough, Thomas was selected to the NFL's 2010 All-Decade team. That's the kind of career path Cisco and other safeties would love to have.

Jaguars S Andre Cisco is poised to have a career season

Andre Cisco's biggest question mark coming out of college was his health. Having suffered a torn ACL in 2020 and a lower-body injury the year prior, he entered the draft with medical red flags. Ultimately, he slid to the third round.

So far, Cisco's managed to avoid major injuries, which is why he's been able to get better every season.

Circling back to Chris Trapasso's comparison, it makes sense when you take into account that Jacksonville hired Kris Richard as the defensive backs coach in the offseason. He held the same position during the heyday of the Seattle Seahawks' Legion of Boom in the 2010s.

Richard coached Earl Thomas, Brandon Browner, Kam Chancellor, and Richard Sherman. Under his tutelage, Cisco should be able to take off in 2024.

Josh Hines-Allen and Trevor Lawrence have gotten lots of recognition from the national media this offseason. It may not be long before Andre Cisco joins them.

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