The Packers were fashionably late to this year’s NFL Draft because, holy shit, we actually traded for Micah Parsons (it still feels good to type those words). Without a first round pick, the Packers basically had the day off on Thursday. 

But that didn’t mean the Packers weren’t busy. In the middle of their final draft prep, the team multi-tasked, hammering out a team-friendly, 3-year $50.25 million extension ($20 million guaranteed) for wide receiver Jayden Reed. 

With Packers players chirping on social media for their buddy “Bird”, the team added to the good vibes with, by most accounts, a pretty successful day 2 of the draft. 

Patiently letting the board come to them, the Packers were happily surprised when South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse (pronounced “See-Say”) fell into their laps in the second round. “He was one of those players we didn’t see being available when we were picking at 52,” said Packers GM Brian Gutekunst. 

The team may have had the inside track on Cisse thanks to Packers’ national scout Mike Owen, who lives just 35 minutes from the South Carolina campus. Owen encountered Cisse frequently, and said he could tell early on that, “he’s wired right” and was constantly studying the game, trying to get better. 

Dane Brugler, draft analyst for The Athletic, echoed Owen’s evaluation, “[Brandon’s] coaches say he is an ‘extras’ guy and trains with a pro mindset." Brugler also added that Cisse meshed well after arriving at South Carolina, gradually coming out of his shell as a teammate.

It’s entirely possible Cisse picked up some of his hard work habits from his mentor, Gamecock alum, Stephon Gilmore. Cisse described the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year as “like my older brother” and “best friend” saying they speak constantly over text, and that, “we see the game the same way” (probably not a bad thing). 

The 6th cornerback off the board, Cisse posted a 9.24 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) out of a possible 10, which featured impressive jumps of 41” in the vert and 10’11” in the broad. Cisse is also fast, having lettered in track in high school (setting a personal best of 11.12 seconds in the 100-meter dash). 

Cisse played a good amount of man coverage in college, but NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein noted that he is “scheme-versatile," a flexibility which could prove valuable in Jonathan Gannon’s more fluid system. 

Cisse is also a willing, though still developing, run defender. His missed tackle rate in the run game was a less-than-ideal 10.5% in 2025, however he was tied for sixth among cornerbacks with a run stop rate of 5.2%.

Perhaps most unusual about Cisse is his age – he won’t turn 21 years old until July. It is entirely possible his first legal beer could be CheeseheadTV’s own “Carry The G” (marketing opportunity anyone?). 

In fact, Cisse has already been carrying the G – his girlfriend’s family is from Wisconsin and apparently they’re huge Packers fans. Sometimes it’s just meant to be. Cisse was overjoyed to become a Packer, producing tears of joy that were reminiscent of Rashan Gary’s draft day.

Packers second-round pick Brandon Cisse was brought to tears after hearing the big news 🥹

NFL Draft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/YL2z6rDm3h

— NFL (@NFL) April 25, 2026

While the Packers ultimately selected Cisse at pick 52, another player the team was considering in that spot was Missouri defensive tackle, Chris McClellan. 

According to Gutekunst: “We really had a few players with that first pick that we liked and it was kind of a tough decision there. And then a couple of them hung around and we went and tried to get one, and we did.” Asked by a reporter to clarify that he was referring to McClellan, Gutekunst confirmed, “Yeah, we thought he was that kind of player.” 

Indeed, the Packers traded their 3rd round pick (pick 83) and the second of their two 5th round picks (pick 160) to the Buccaneers for their 3rd round pick (pick 77) – moving up 6 spots to select the versatile McClellan. 

Gutekunst may have been wise to make the leap. In the picks between 77 and 83, two teams selected defensive tackles (the Jaguars selected Albert Regis from Texas A&M with pick 81 and the Vikings selected Domonique Orange from Iowa State with pick 82).

Asked what he liked about McClellan, perhaps more than the other available defensive tackles, Gutekunst responded, “He played in the SEC. He’s a huge man, has excellent length, and I think, for me, the combination of being able to play the nose, the 3, and actually rush the passer. There’s a lot of these guys that don’t do that – he can, and I think that’s what set him apart a little bit for us.”

The 7th defensive tackle selected, McClellan scored a 6.01 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 911 out of 2278 DT from 1987 to 2026. He has 34” arms and 11” hands or as Brugler called them in his scouting report: “Bear claw hands”. 

Like Cisse, who transferred to South Carolina after two years at North Carolina State, McClellan spent two seasons as a backup at Florida before transferring to Missouri and becoming a key starter. Gutekunst noted how both players adjusted to their new situations fairly quickly, and said the Packers felt that adaptability was an indicator both players could contribute early on as pros. “We wouldn’t have taken them if we didn’t think they could help us right away,” Gutekunst added, somewhat notably. 

There aren’t too many gaping holes on this Packers’ roster, but the Packers did manage to fill two key needs yesterday. 

Here is what some other media outlets were saying about the Packers’ selections.

Brandon Cisse 

– PFF 

“Biggest Steals of Round 2” (1 of 5 players)

– CBS Sports (Grade: A-)

Cisse is one of the most explosive movers in this corner class. His ability to click-and-close is special. He goes to the perfect defense for his skillset with how much off-zone coverage the Packers ask from their corners. Cisse is also one of the youngest players in the entire draft class and hasn't yet turned 21-years old.

– Sports Illustrated (Grade B+)

Cisse played his first two seasons at North Carolina State before transferring to South Carolina for 2025. With the Gamecocks, Cisse played in 12 games and defended five passes while nabbing one of two interceptions for his collegiate career. At 5' 11" and 189 pounds, Cisse is a bit on the small side but plays with physicality, showing an eagerness to play against the run while also doing well in press coverage.

– Yahoo Sports (Grade: C)

The Packers’ secondary struggled mightily last season and this pick feels like a weird fit for a team that needed better man coverage chops. Still, the Packers needed some kind of secondary upgrade on Day 2 of the draft.

– USA Today (Grade: B-)

Fast, long and dynamic. Cisse clears the bar for what Brian Gutekunst seeks from his cornerbacks. Instant returns shouldn't be expected, as his instincts are underdeveloped. But the Packers continue to focus on the long term.

– The Athletic (Grade: A-)

Cisse might need some time in the soup before he can be fully counted on as a starter, but his athleticism (at 6-0, 190) flashes signs of having legit CB1 potential. This is a classic Packers pick, as it’ll take work to get Cisse to his ceiling — but this is sort of what the Packers do.

Chris McClellan

– Yahoo Sports (Grade: C-)

In a normal draft he wouldn’t go this early, but the lack of depth in this draft is starting to show. Not explosive as an athlete, nor super technically sound, so he’ll need coaching.

– USA Today (Grade: B-)

Another classic Gutekunst pick. McClellan has the frame to make waves on the interior, though he's fairly inconsistent in several phases. He can help set the tone up front even if he never becomes much of a disruptor.

– The Athletic (Grade: B) 

With the Packers still transitioning to a four-down line, adding some beef between the tackles was a necessity. I like this pick — McClellan should be a rotational performer with starter potential.