Lewis Cine
Lewis Cine’s goal in 2022 as a rookie with the Minnesota Vikings is bloodthirsty. He wants to stack bodies.
He actually said that.
Cine appeared on teammate Patrick Peterson’s podcast All Things Covered this week and was asked which NFL he most wants to hit. He didn’t discriminate, replying, “I don’t have one person in particular. My head is, I just want to stack bodies. That’s it.”
In the NFL, Cine, a free safety, will be asked to balance his 1920-2005 addiction to hard hits with avoiding penalties. The league protects quarterbacks and wide receivers more than ever, so the zeal of Cine’s bloodthirst is a bit eyebrow-raising for some.
Cine joined the Vikings on April 28th after the Vikings traded out of the 12th overall pick in April’s draft. Through direct compensation with the Lions, via trade of the 12th pick, the Vikings added Cine, Andrew Booth (CB), Ed Ingram (OL), and Brian Asamoah (LB). The Lions landed Jameson Williams (WR) and Josh Paschal (EDGE).
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As a 1st-Rounder, the 22-year-old Cine should start right away unless Camryn Bynum, a second-year safety, miraculously hangs onto the starting job this summer. On the whole, though, most outside depth charts already forecast Cine as Minnesota’s starting free safety.
The Georgia alumnus will play next to Harrison Smith, another player who constructed a reputation on big hits. Smith has been “stacking bodies” for ten years, even gaining a controversial reputation for it as of late and earning subsequent penalties. There is arguably no better teacher in the NFL to teach Cine the balance of hard-hitting with defensive proficiency than Smith.
Incidentally, Cine is also the plan for life after Smith. Although Smith signed a sizable contract extension in 2021, the lifelong Viking turned 33 in February, meaning his era of dominance in Minnesota is winding down. When that happens — unless he is a bust — Cine will carry on Smith’s legacy of body-stacking.
Cine gets a big test out of the gate in his first NFL game. The Vikings take on the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 at U.S. Bank Stadium. The showdown will be the first game for many new Vikings, including head coach Kevin O’Connell, Za’Darius Smith (who defected from the Packers in March), and Cine, among others.
Oddsmakers tap Cine with +4000 odds to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).