Jets To Trade S Andre Cisco To Lions

A third-rounder in 2021, Cisco spent the first four years of his career in Jacksonville before joining the Jets on a one-year, $10MM pact last season. Cisco started the Jets’ first eight games, but his season ended when he suffered a pectoral tear in late October. After testing free agency again last offseason, the Queens native and former Syracuse standout re-signed with New York on a one-year, $2.5MM contract. In moving on from him, the 2-7 Jets will save $1.75MM at the cost of $500K in dead money.

While the 26-year-old Cisco has been a first-teamer in 59 of 80 career games, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn cut his playing time this year. He started in four of the Jets’ nine games and logged a 31.83% defensive snap share, and Glenn benched him for Malachi Moore in the team’s 35-12 loss to the Chiefs in Week 9. Cisco, who was on the field for 53.5% of the Jets’ special teams snaps, has totaled 23 tackles (two for loss), two quarterback hits and a forced fumble this season. He has eight career interceptions, though he hasn’t picked off a pass since 2024.

The Lions are reportedly on the lookout for cornerback and linebacker help, but they will address a different area with the Cisco pickup. Detroit’s defense ranks last in the league against the pass, though the unit has looked better since it activated one-time Pro Bowl safety Brian Branch from the reserve/PUP list before Week 7. After holding on for a 19-9 win in Miami on Sunday, the Lions are 3-0 with Branch and 6-2 overall. The NFC North contenders could get another boost with the potential arrival of Branch’s safety partner, Kerby Joseph, who hasn’t played in a game in over a year because of knee problems. Joseph has been on reserve/PUP all season, but he returned to practice on Oct. 28. The Lions have until Nov. 18 to activate him.

Branch and fellow safety Chuck Clark played all 57 defensive snaps against the Dolphins in Week 9. Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis struggled during a 13-of-25, 128-yard day and threw his lone INT to Clark, who has been a full-time starter this year. Clark could remain in that role until Joseph returns (assuming he does), but Cisco will give the team another option in a group that also includes Keith Abney and Christian Izien. The Lions lost Avonte Maddox to a season-ending foot injury in Week 2, while Thomas Harper has been on IR with an ankle injury since late September.