The New York Jets had a quiet 2026 trade deadline, agreeing to just one move in the days leading up to Tuesday afternoon.
That move was an agreement with the Detroit Lions, in which it was initially reported that the Jets had traded veteran safety Andre Cisco to Detroit in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round pick.
Soon thereafter, reports indicated that the return had been modified to a 2029 sixth-round pick, a minor change, albeit a slightly favorable one for Detroit.
On Saturday, a report emerged detailing the reason behind the change. Tom Pelissero reported that it was due to “medical concerns”, bringing it up as a comparison to the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers’ scrapped trade involving linebacker Daiyan Henley, which fell apart after Henley failed a physical with the Broncos.
Detroit’s exact medical concerns with Cisco were not reported. The 26-year-old had appeared in all nine games for the Jets this season, serving as their No. 3 safety, and has not had any injury designations ahead of a game. In 2025, however, Cisco missed the Jets’ final nine games after suffering a pectoral tear, which required surgery.
Cisco, a 2021 third-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars out of Syracuse, has started 59 of his 80 NFL games across six seasons. He peaked from 2022-23, when he emerged as one of the league’s best ball-hawking safeties, snagging seven interceptions over that span. Since then, though, Cisco has recorded just one interception, including none across 17 games (12 starts) with the Jets.
The Lions needed safety depth as they pursue the coveted NFC North crown. Starting safeties Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee) both missed the team’s first five games due to serious lower-body injuries suffered in 2025. Branch has returned for the last three games, while Joseph is expected to return soon; he was a full participant in practice this week.
The Jets, meanwhile, will pawn off Cisco’s third-safety snaps to Malachi Moore, a fourth-round pick last season. They also have seventh-round rookie safety VJ Payne due to return soon from injured reserve (bone bruise).
