It didn't take long for Andre Cisco to remind everybody why so many pushed for him to see more playing time as a rookie.
Opening the 2022 season as a first-year starter, Cisco was one of the Jaguars' most productive defenders last year. The No. 65 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft started just three games as a rookie as Urban Meyer's staff kept him glued to the sideline, but Cisco's role expanded to that of an every-down player in 2022, leading to Cisco recording 81 tackles, 11 pass deflections, one sack, one tackle for loss, three interceptions, and a touchdown in 17 starts.
Now, the Jaguars' dynamic safety is leading the charge for the team's potential third-year breakouts, with Pro Football Focus tabbing him as one of the breakout candidates from the 2021 class.
"Cisco stepped up into a full-time starting role in his second season in the league after impressing late in his rookie year," PFF said.
"His 67.1 PFF grade in 2022 ranked 34th at the position, while his 69.4 PFF coverage grade ranked 28th. He could clean up his tackling a bit, after missing 12.5% of the tackles he attempted last year, but his career looks to be firmly on an upward trajectory heading into year three."
Cisco will be entering his second season as a starter and will now have a full regular-season and offseason under his belt in defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell's scheme. The 23-year-old was one of the Jaguars' defensive X-Factors for much of 2022, and all signs point to that again being the case this season.
Cisco has also stood out at OTAs as one of the Jaguars' most physical-improved players. The rangy safety has shown up to practice with a much bulkier and muscular frame then he displayed in his first two years, showing that he is entering Year 3 with a different mindset.
“Just taking away from last year, I feel like last year I was working on my movement more, a little bit. Taking off some of the extra weight I had from my rookie year. So I’m just trying to balance that out, find a good middle ground," Cisco told Rick Ballou of 1010XL.
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