The Detroit Lions have bolstered their secondary by acquiring veteran safety Andre Cisco from the New York Jets in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round draft pick, according to multiple reports ahead of Tuesday's NFL trade deadline.
Cisco, 26, was a third-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2021 NFL Draft and spent his first four seasons there before signing with the Jets ahead of the 2025 season. He made 12 starts in 17 games for New York. This season, the 6-foot, 210-pound safety has started four of nine games, recording 23 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one pass breakup for a Jets team that has struggled to a 2-7 record.
The Lions, sitting at 6-2 and contending for their third playoff appearance in four years, rank last in the NFL in both passing yards allowed (2,087) and touchdown passes allowed (18). However, the secondary has shown improvement recently, holding each of their last three opponents — the Packers, Vikings and Dolphins — to 17 or fewer points and allowing an average of just 200 passing yards per game over that span.
Trade analysis
The deal has been graded as a modest upgrade for Detroit (B-) and a below-average return for New York (C-). For the Lions, general manager Brad Holmes adds depth to a unit that has taken its lumps but is trending upward. Cisco provides experienced competition and can contribute immediately. For the Jets, general manager Darren Mougey recoups a future asset for a player in the final year of his contract, though the 2028 sixth-round pick is seen as light compensation given the Lions' current pass-defense struggles.
