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AFC team selects both Brandon Cisse and Jalon Kilgore in ESPN's latest mock draft

Could two South Carolina teammates end up on the same roster later this week?
ByMorgan Moriarty|
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Nov 1, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back Jalon Kilgore (24) intercepts a pass intended for Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Winston Watkins (17) during the second quarter at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Nov 1, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back Jalon Kilgore (24) intercepts a pass intended for Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Winston Watkins (17) during the second quarter at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The 2026 NFL Draft is just four days away, with this year's festivities set to take place in Pittsburgh, Penn. for the very first time. Last year, there were a total of six former Gamecocks that heard their names called in the draft, including safety Nick Emmanwori, defensive tackle T.J. Saunders and linebacker Demetrius Knight. 

This year's group of draft-eligible South Carolina includes big names such as cornerback Brandon Cisse, safety Jalon Kilgore, defensive lineman Nick Barrett and running back Rahsul Faison.

On Monday, ESPN's Jordan Reid released his latest NFL mock draft, covering all seven rounds of the 2026 draft. Let's check in and see where the draft-eligible players ended up. Coincidentally, Reid has two South Carolina teammates landing on the same roster. 

Brandon Cisse

Reid has Cisse going early in the second round, landing at No. 43 overall to the Miami Dolphins. 

"Cisse is a high-caliber athlete who is still working to improve his technique," Reid writes. "His scrappiness and competitiveness in man coverage would fit well in new coach Jeff Hafley's scheme."

In Miami, Cisse would join a cornerback room featuring Storm Duck, Darrell Baker Jr. and JuJu Brents. EThe former Gamecock cornerback definitely has the talent to see some early rookie reps in Miami. 

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Jalon Kilgore 

In a bit of a surprise, Reid has the Dolphins selecting Cisse's teammate in safety Jalen Kilgore at No. 87 overall in the third round.  via the Philadelphia Eagles. 

"Kilgore is an interchangeable player who projects best in a STAR type of role on a Dolphins team that's rebuilding from the ground up," Reid writes. 

Last season, Jason Marshall Jr. played primarily at the position, finishing with 23 total tackles with four passes defended and an interception. Adding Kilgore in the mix would give Miami some much-needed experience at the position. 

The 2025-26 season in South Florida was one to forget, as the Miami Dolphins finished 7-10, and parted ways with general manager Chris Grier midseason. Defensively, the Dolphins finished 24th in team defense. Adding both Cisse and Kilgore, who have experience playing together, would put Miami in a great spot heading into 2026. Last season in Columbia, the two combined for 81 total tackles with three interceptions and 15 passes intercepted. 

As for the rest of draft-eligible South Carolina Gamecocks, Reid did not include any others in his seven-round mock. There's a chance that defensive lineman Nick Barrett or running back Rahsul Faison could end up getting selected in the later rounds.   

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