New to New York, safety Andre Cisco believes a fellow free-agent signee is primed to break out for the Jets.
Cisco has some familiarity with Justin Fields as a member of the same high school graduating class and 2021 draft class, but he's gotten to know him on another level preparing for the season ahead as teammates, and the bond forged has the former Jaguars safety expecting big things from his quarterback.
"Getting to know him up close as a teammate has been really, really special," Cisco said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "I'm glad that I get this opportunity to get behind him and support him as he takes on that role. We already know what quarterback means in the NFL. I'm excited for him to prove those who are doubting him wrong and those who are supporting right, because I think he's gonna have a huge year."
Fields, a 2021 first-rounder, is on his third team in as many seasons, unable to establish himself as the future of the Bears franchise in Chicago and benched for Russell Wilson on the Steelers last year despite a 4-2 start to the campaign.
He possesses breathtaking athleticism and looked to be improving on his accuracy in 2024 with 1,106 passing yards, five touchdowns and just one interception on a career-high 65.8 completion percentage. Signing with the Jets provides Fields his best shot at further redemption; there's no question that he stands atop the QB pecking order for New York at this juncture.
Fields does likely have a doubter count far higher than believers, but that's something the Jets share as a team.
After chasing results, knowing they had a defense capable of fueling a deep playoff run, the Jets have exited the Aaron Rodgers era the same way they entered it -- without a postseason berth since 2010.
They're now out to prove themselves under a new regime, led by head coach Aaron Glenn.
Cisco has played in 63 career games (47 starts), with 229 tackles, 24 passes defensed and eight interceptions. He is coming from a similarly struggling Jacksonville franchise, which has made the playoffs just twice since New York's last appearance. He was part of one of those squads, in 2022, but he's otherwise just as hungry to prove himself playoff-caliber.
One way to get there will be continued development under Aaron Glenn, a former defensive back himself who earned his way to a head coaching position coordinating the Lions defense the past four seasons.
"I expected a man that was going to hold us to a high standard," Cisco said of Glenn. "He put together a good staff that has also done a really, really good job of bringing the message down from up top. I appreciate it so far. It's helped me get better. We had a really productive spring, learned a lot and I already saw my game transform from Day 1 to Day 15 -- however many days we practiced. I know it's gonna be a great time this year."
July is always a time of rampant optimism in the NFL, especially when factoring in new pieces to a franchise such as Cisco, Fields and Glenn.
Cisco believes in what he's experienced thus far with the team, though, and has hope that optimism will turn into results come September.
