Unlike most teams, the Seattle Seahawks can afford to be picky with the players they target in the 2026 NFL Draft. They don't have a lot of roster needs, and even if they will have the final pick in the first round, they can go after someone who not only fills a hole in the depth chart but who's also a perfect fit.
Considering that, it might not be much of a surprise to see them go after South Carolina CB Brandon Cisse with the No. 32 pick. They've already fared great with a fellow Gamecock DB like Nick Emmanwori, so they know what to expect there.
Fortunately for them, all 31 teams might just lay the red carpet for the defending champions to march and get the guy they want. That's why, according to FanSided's NFL draft big board, no other team has Cisse among their top five targets.
The Seattle Seahawks won't face opposition for Brandon Cisse
Granted, watching everybody else zag from the prospect you're zigging on might be a bit of a red flag. That said, it's not because of Cisse as a player but because of positional needs. Most teams that need cornerbacks would probably take theirs earlier, with Mansoor Delane, Jermod McCoy, and Colton Hood as the first guys off the board.
Cisse and Emmanwori didn't play together in college; he transferred from NC State for the 2025 season after Emmanwori turned pro. However, they played 7-on-7 together in high school, and Cisse was actually in attendance to watch the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, so he's clearly already endeared himself to the fan base and the organization.
Like Emmanwori, he's a physical specimen with a knack for stopping the run, and while he can be a bit too aggressive at times -- which leads to poor angles or, at times, missed tackles -- he's instincts and explosion just pop off the tape.
The Seahawks lost Riq Woolen in free agency, and they have an evident need for depth at cornerback behind Josh Jobe. They can afford to take things slowly with Cisse, polishing and molding him while getting him on the field in obvious run-play situations at first before unleashing him in a bigger role toward the end of the season.
And with everybody else fixated on other players with their first-round picks, the Seahawks may love their chances of getting the South Carolina Gamecock reunited in the secondary with his former high school teammate.
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