Even though new Jets safety Andre Cisco has been around his new teammates for only a few months since signing in free agency in March, he believes the secondary can be one of the best in the NFL.

"I think we should set the bar in terms of what it looks like at a high level around the league," Cisco said. "I think guys should be able to look at this secondary, the play style, the effort, the smartness in terms of IQ and we should be able to set the bar high in this league. I'm excited to have this chance and it's already felt really good and really natural."

Cisco is now a part of a secondary that has experienced change in the offseason. Cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Michael Carter II return, but CB D.J. Reed signed with the Lions while the Jets added Brandon Stephens, who played with the Ravens last season. At safety, Tony Adams and Jarius Monroe return and are joined by rookie Malachi Moore, who was drafted in the fourth round out of Alabama.

After four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cisco joins a team, under new HC Aaron Glenn, that is focused on building culture and stressing leadership qualities. Cisco believes he's found the right fit.

"Obviously, the interest in coming back home, being part of something great with Aaron Glenn at the helm and his history of defense," said Cisco, who grew up in Valley Stream on Long Island. "The culture here starts in the building. So, just creating a good culture within meetings, really understanding our teammates, what kind of guys we got around us, coaches serving players and players serving coaches in terms of making it a whole puzzle and everybody being part of that."

Cisco played in college at Syracuse and was drafted by the Jaguars in the third round in 2021. He played 63 games with Jacksonville over four seasons and totaled 8 interceptions, 24 passes defensed and 229 tackles. He has high standards for himself and his team, Glenn noted.

"Every guy has to have some type of characteristic that fits what we do and what we're about, and Cisco does," Glenn said during OTAs. "Number one, he's a really, really good person. He's a really good football player and he's a player that can get the ball back for you. You watch him how he operates with his teammates and you could tell that he's a true team guy. I think that's only going to get better once we continue to coach him and once he understands the dynamics of everything that we got going on. He's doing a good job for us and I'm happy that we got him."

During the Jaguars' 2024 season (4-13), Cisco, 25, made headlines when he reportedly called out teammates. He said that he was trying to hold the team accountable during a challenging season and resorted to being vocal even though it does not align with his leadership style.

"For me, it's really not about leading with words, first of all, just actions," Cisco said. "I try to come into work every day and just be consistent. I think one of the things that happens with football and everything in general is just first-day enthusiasm and then kind of dies down after that. I try to emphasize being that kind of guy every day. That's what I lead with."