Jaguars S Andre Cisco must be thrilled about the latest Antoine Winfield Jr. news

The Jacksonville Jaguars have done a good job of locking up their own players in recent years. Just recently, they gave Josh Allen a contract extension that makes him one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the NFL. Trevor Lawrence is probably next in line but safety Andre Cisco's new deal shouldn't be far off.

Speaking of Cisco, he must the enthused that fellow safety Antoine Winfield Jr. just got a monster four-year extension worth $84.1 million that makes him the highest-paid defensive back in league history.

Winfield, a second-round pick in 2020, most definitely deserved a payday. Last year, he logged six forced fumbles, six sacks, and three interceptions. Earlier in the offseason, the New England Patriots gave safety Kyle Dugger a four-year, $56 million contract.

It's fair to say that Winfield has raised the bar significantly higher, and every single defensive back who's due for an extension will try to use his extension as a baseline in contract negotiations. Andre Cisco should and probably will.

Projected to go in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Cisco slid to the third due to medical concerns. However, he's managed to put all doubts to rest, as he's appeared in 47 games over the last three years. Although he spent most of his rookie campaign on the sidelines, the former Syracuse Orangeman flashed potential early on. By 2022, he had joined the starting lineup.

Cisco is now entering a contract year and he'll be incentivized to get a top-market contract. Over the last two years, he's logged seven interceptions and 15 passes defensed. He could be much better under defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen and defensive backs coach Kris Richard.

It's uncertain if the Jaguars will make Andre Cisco their priority

Unlike his predecessor, Dave Caldwell, general manager Trent Baalke has prioritized keeping the Jaguars' homegrown talent. Hired in 2021, he first locked up Cam Robinson. DaVon Hamilton was next and Josh Allen got taken care of more this offseason. Besides those three, Baalke has also given new deals to defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris, linebacker Foye Oluokun, and tight end Evan Engram.

Because the front office has done a good job of re-signing their own players, Trevor Lawrence getting an extension seems like a certainty. The same can't be said about Andre Cisco. So far, he's trending in the right direction but he would need to have a breakout season if he wants to get a contract like Antoine Winfield Jr.'s.

For the sake of argument, let's say that Cisco does have a banner year. He will definitely deserve a raise. The question would then be whether the Jaguars should give it to him. Make no mistake, a player should never settle for a discount, and he's worth whatever his best suitor is willing to pay him. However, it's fair to wonder if Baalke would want to make that kind of investment at safety.

While they poured plenty of resources into the position, Baalke hasn't given a safety a top-market deal during his stint in Jacksonville. Maybe he'll buck the trend with Cisco, especially if he plays at an elite level next season but there's no guarantee he will.

For the time being, it's hard to tell how things will play out and whether Andre Cisco will get a contract that resembles Winfield's. Having said that, the bar has been set higher, and the Jaguars must be aware of that reality.

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