The Detroit Lions are on the board for the 2026 NFL trade deadline.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Lions are trading for New York Jets safety Andre Cisco. In return, the Lions send the Jets a sixth-round pick in 2028.
Cisco was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft and spent the first four years of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played in 63 games for the Jaguars, starting 47 games for them during that span. After his rookie contract ended, he signed a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Jets in 2025 and re-signed with the team for a one-year, $2.5 million deal this offseason.
This season, Cisco has seen his role diminish in New York after starting eight games for them last year. After starting the Jets’ first three games of 2026, Cisco has only played a total of 23 snaps with New York over the past five games.
In Detroit, Cisco should give the Lions some much-needed depth at the safety position. Brian Branch recently returned from his Achilles injury and Kerby Joseph could be close to returning now that his training window has opened. However, the Lions struggle with their depth at the position. Veteran Chuck Clark was the primary reserve and played well, throwing his second interception of the season on Sunday. But Christian Izien was benched, Thomas Harper remains on injured reserve and the Lions cut back on rookie Keith Abney, who moved to safety midseason. This move could open up the possibility of moving Abney back to nickel cornerback.
As for Cisco, he is a versatile safety capable of playing both in the box and as a safety in deep coverage. He will appeal to the Lions, as he is an aggressive defender against the run. But he also has very good skills with the ball. In college, he had 13 interceptions for Syracuse, including seven in his freshman season. At the NFL level, Cisco has eight interceptions, 26 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and 2.5 sacks.
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