ESPN's 2026 NFL trade deadline grades evaluated deals across the league, examining how each move affected teams' immediate and long-term outlook. Experts questioned whether Detroit Lions' general manager Brad Holmes did enough to address the team's defensive weaknesses on Monday.
Detroit acquired New York Jets safety Andre Cisco in exchange for a 2029 sixth-round pick. ESPN analytics writer Seth Walder gave the Lions a C grade for the trade, and a B+ grade for the Jets.
In Cisco, the Lions get a veteran deep safety who could work with Clark to complement Branch until Joseph returns. But Cisco had been mostly relegated to the bench in New York, having not had double-digit defensive snaps since Week 3. That number dropped to zero on Sunday, with Malachi
Moore playing ahead of him.
Cisco is only 26 years old and costs $2 million this year between base salary and per game roster bonuses, with the Lions presumably taking over the remainder of the money owed. To me, this is pricey for a player who hasn't really been playing for the Jets and who, ideally, won't play all that much for the Lions if Joseph is able to return to his previous level of play.
It makes sense for the Jets to trade him -- they are well out of contention and Cisco is on an expiring contract -- and I'm guessing they were pleased to get this kind of return. - Seth Walder, ESPN
The No. 65 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars out of Syracuse, Cisco has registered 293 tackles, 26 passes defensed, eight interceptions, six tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, four quarterback hits, 2.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery. Cisco has returned one interception for a touchdown.
The 6-foot, 210-pound safety is a six-year pro.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: ESPN grades Detroit Lions' Andre Cisco trade with New York Jets
