2021 Raiders Draft Prospect Profile
Name: Andre Cisco
School: Syracuse
Position: Safety
Height:6′
Weight: 205 pounds
Stats
Coverage-4
Syracuse often dropped their best cover man into the slot, allowing him to operate versus shifty slot receivers. Cisco didn’t allow for much cushion, blanketing them from snap to whistle. In contrast, in deep coverage, the range and depth of his responsibilities should open NFL eyes. Cisco shows zero fear in being the literal last line of defense.
Ball Skills-4
Few, if any safeties in this draft class display the sticky-fingered ballhawk tendencies of Cisco. From any route or possible angle, he acts as though the ball is his and he will find a way. When Cisco makes the grab, you will not see much of a bobble, the pick looks clean.
Speed-3
As we all know that play speed and timed speed won’t always align. Yet, Cisco presents the explosion to affect vertical routes. He stays with receivers. However, when breaking on the ball or undercutting a route, this trait surfaces. The lone downside is that he’s not much of a blitzer.
Agility-3
Look at Cisco’s quicks in three separate, but distinctively important area. His backpedal, fluid enough to transition into a hip flip if he’s manning the slot. He sinks his hips and drops his pad level inside. Meanwhile, playing deep, he will shuffle backward as a gauge to scan the field and decide his course of action. At the next level, he needs to figure out the marriage of physical traits and the run game. With his nimbleness, Cisco needs to factor more into the run game on a permanent basis, especially teams that choose to run or throw a screen in his immediate vicinity.
Tackling-2
This grade represents potential and frustration. On film, Cisco flashes the ability to play as an impact tackler. However, the lack of consistency shows up regularly. While the former Syracuse standout can play with a physical style, too often, his strike zone and lack of wrap up come back to hurt the process. With NFL coaching, Cisco will vastly improve this aspect, rounding into shape as an all-around player.
Intangibles-3
Confidence is a theme of Cisco’s entire game. There doesn’t appear to be a play that he doesn’t feel like he can affect. Whether it’s jumping into the wash on a run play or jarring the ball loose on a wide-open pass play, Cisco plays with a confidence that only accentuates his on-field abilities.
Diagnosis-3
Cisco leads with his eyes for most plays. He senses the perimeter run play and starts his approach before the runner gets the corner. In pass coverage, Cisco capitalizes on the lazy or technically challenged. That is to say, if the pass ventures near his area and a wideout reaches early for it, Cisco makes the play. Additionally, any quarterback that stares down one receiver, just asks for Cisco to pick the ball off.
Raiders Fit
With Lamarcus Joyner expected to hit free agency, the Raiders have no in-house options. Erik Harris and Jeff Heath should not function in any sort of starting role on this team. As a result, the team needs a true centerfielder. Cisco will enter the facility from the first day and start alongside Johnathan Abram. In all honesty, which defensive coordinator lands the job should not matter to Cisco. In the NFL, quality deep safety play, mixed with versatility fits any scheme, on every team. Cisco’s penchant for the big play alleviates the need for Abram to regularly venture downfield. If the Raiders believe in Abram, and all signs indicate yes, they must provide him with a safety that patrols the field in coverage.
Points: 22/28 (Scale of 1-4)
