Young Jaguars starter predicted to leave Duval County for fresh start with Vikings
All of a sudden, the Jacksonville Jaguars are all-out on the 2024 season.
The team decided to cut ties with starting left tackle Cam Robinson on Tuesday, trading him to the Minnesota Vikings for a swap of 2026 draft picks. It’s fair to wonder who’s next, both at the upcoming NFL trade deadline and beyond as the Jaguars appear primed for a full rebuild.
For that reason, the Bleacher Report scouting department predicts starting safety Andre Cisco, the No. 65 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, will leave Duval County in 2025 free agency for a fresh start in Minnesota.
Here was the site’s take on the potential move:
Camryn Bynum’s and Harrison Smith’s contracts are about to expire, so Minnesota will likely be in the safety market this offseason. Meanwhile, Cisco will be a 25-year-old free agent this spring who should pique the club’s interest.
He’s shown off some impressive ball skills over the last three years, racking up eight interceptions and 19 passes defended during that timeframe. Also, the 2021 third-round pick is best as a free safety which would make him a good pairing with Bynum, if Bynum is re-signed, in Brian Flores’ defense that uses a lot of two-high coverages.
A change of scenery would likely benefit Cisco, as Jacksonville has struggled to develop its young talent on defense in recent seasons. The Jaguars’ starting safety duo of Cisco and Antonio Johnson are among PFF’s lowest-graded units through the first eight weeks of 2024.
The Vikings could have better luck with Cisco, especially if defensive coordinator Brian Flores sticks around for another season.
He’s been an impact player at times, hauling in eight career interceptions, and he showed some leadership after Jacksonville’s blowout loss to the Chicago Bears in London, telling reporters that he saw “a lot of quit” in the game from his teammates. The Jaguars responded with their best all-around performance of the season a week later in 32-16 win over the Patriots.
Bleacher Report also named the Kansas City Chiefs as a team that could have interest in signing Cisco in the offseason. Either way, a second contract with Jacksonville feels unlikely given the current state of the franchise and how poorly the defense has performed overall.
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