Lewis Cine … Changed His Mind?
On Wednesday, ESPN reported that former Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine would sign with the New York Jets, one day after Minnesota waived the former 1st-Rounder.
Lewis Cine … Changed His Mind?
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweeted Wednesday, “Source: Lewis Cine is signing with the Jets. Former first-round pick starts elsewhere after Minnesota released him Tuesday.”
But Cine evidently changed his mind. Fowler updated the Cine situation on Thursday with another tweet: “After planning to sign with the Jets, Lewis Cine has now pivoted and is signing with the Bills practice squad. Source said Cine changed his mind after sorting through everything Wednesday. His college coach, Jahmile Addae, is the DB coach in Buffalo. Was heavily recruited by teams throughout the day.”
So, it’s still the AFC East for Cine, but it’s the Buffalo Bills, not the New York Jets.
In Buffalo, Cine will join this safety room:
- Taylor Rapp
- Damar Hamlin
- Mike Edwards
- Cole Bishop
- Kareem Jackson (PS)
- Lewis Cine (PS)
Cine stood out in a preseason game a week and a half ago versus the Cleveland Browns, tormenting several Browns reserve players. His 53-man roster stock climbed, at least per onlookers who wanted him to make the Vikings’ roster. But the prestige was brief, and the Vikings dropped Cine this week amid 53-man roster cuts.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah drafted Cine in April 2022, his first pick after three months on the job. The pick drew immediate criticism as Vikings faithful wanted the purple team to choose safety Kyle Hamilton, but Adofo-Mensah instead traded back with NFC North rivals and picked Cine.
Cine didn’t win a starter’s job right away in 2022 and fractured his leg soon after in London. The nasty injury mandated a long recovery, although Cine was back in action by the start of the 2023 regular season. The problem? Minnesota’s safety room was deep enough without the Georgia alumnus, utilizing full-time roles for Smith, Bynum, and Metellus.
The Vikings simply had too many effective safeties for Cine to make a dent. Perhaps his career will be rekindled in Buffalo if he makes it off the practice squad.
The Bills’ defense ranked 12th in the NFL per DVOA in 2023, though the club lost a lot of its veteran leadership this offseason, mainly because of quarterback Josh Allen’s hefty contract. An affordable Cine could certainly help the group if he effectuates his 2022 draft stock.
Buffalo also employs former Vikings tight end Zach Davidson on the practice squad.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.