Packers repeat Jaire Alexander development strategy with rookie CB Brandon Cisse, and early results show promise
The second-round pick has been put in difficult matchups to develop his ability to cover talented weapons in the NFL.
Green Bay is using a familiar blueprint to fast-track its second-round cornerback. The Packers are putting Brandon Cisse against wide receiver Christian Watson on a regular basis during training camp, mirroring the approach they used with Jaire Alexander back in 2018.
That year, the coaching staff deliberately matched Alexander against Davante Adams throughout camp, believing that daily reps against an elite receiver would accelerate the rookie’s growth. The early returns suggest Cisse is responding well to the challenge.
The Jaire Alexander blueprint
The Packers drafted Cisse in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft after trading away their first-round pick to acquire edge defender Micah Parsons. Without a Day 1 selection, Cisse represents Green Bay’s biggest investment in the cornerback position this offseason.
The strategy the coaching staff is deploying traces back to Alexander’s rookie year. By that time, Adams was already establishing himself as the team’s lead receiver, and the Packers created consistent competition between them during one-on-ones and team drills. By facing a player of Adams’ caliber on a daily basis, Alexander would develop the tools necessary to handle top-tier receivers on game days. He wouldn’t face many players better than Adams at that point, so the practice reps served as a proving ground.
Green Bay doesn’t have a receiver of Adams’ stature on the current roster, but Watson possesses all the physical tools to stress a cornerback. His size, speed, and route-running ability make him one of the most difficult cover assignments the Packers can offer, even if his production hasn’t reached Adams-level numbers.
Cisse holding his own
The results on Family Night were encouraging, to a point where Cisse practiced with the starters over Keisean Nixon on Sunday as a consequence. Cisse and Watson split their one-on-one reps fairly evenly, with Watson winning some and Cisse answering on others. During team drills, the coaching staff continued to funnel Cisse into coverage against Watson, reinforcing the developmental approach.
Cisse eventually had to exit the session because of cramps, at which point veteran free agent Benjamin St-Juste filled in at boundary corner for the remainder of family night. Before that, the Packers had been practicing with Keisean Nixon and Cisse at the two boundary cornerback spots, with Carrington Valentine still sidelined recovering from an injury.
Green Bay appeared comfortable entering the season with Nixon and Valentine as starters and a veteran serving as the primary backup. But if Cisse can perform at a high level as a rookie, the calculus changes. The cornerback position was a significant problem for the Packers last season, and the front office made Cisse the centerpiece of its effort to fix it. If he can deliver immediate results, it would be a substantial boost for a defense that needs better play on the boundary.
