Jul 27, 2022; Eagan, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine (6) looks on at TCO Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
That’s a wrap for Lewis Cine. His career with the Minnesota Vikings is over, barring a bizarre after-the-fact practice squad arrangement.
Cine had a “moment” — his only with the Vikings in 28 months — 10 days ago at the Cleveland Browns, producing an absolutely magnificent preseason performance where he logged an interception, sack, and two noteworthy hits on Browns’ ball carriers. But it wasn’t enough to secure a roster spot.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Tuesday, “Vikings waived former 2022 first-round pick Lewis Cine.”
Cine will now encounter the NFL’s waiver process, and some general manager will likely take the plunge. Keep an eye on the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Tennessee Titans as possible landing spots for the 24-year-old.
Without Cine, Minnesota will showcase these safeties in 2024:
Fellow safety and teammate of Cine, Bobby McCain, was also released on Tuesday.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah drafted Cine in April 2022, his first pick after three months on the job. The pick drew immediate scorn as Vikings fans wanted the purple team to choose safety Kyle Hamilton — who was right there for the taking — but Adofo-Mensah instead traded back with NFC North rivals and nabbed Cine.
Cine didn’t win a starter’s job out of the gate in 2022 and, soon after, broke his leg in London. The gruesome 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.
Put bluntly — Cine is not needed on the current Vikings roster, nor was he last year. The Vikings have “too many” good safeties.
Cine flashed in the aforementioned preseason game a week and a half ago, terrorizing several Browns reserve players. His 53-man roster stock soared, at least according to eager fans who want him to succeed. Many believed he’d make the 53-man roster. Incorrect.
All told as a Viking, and assuming he doesn’t clear waivers and return to the practice squad, Cine appeared in 10 games and recorded just 10 defensive snaps. He had one tackle in his Vikings career.
Adofo-Mensah also traded Cine’s draft mate, Andrew Booth, to the Dallas Cowboys a couple of weeks ago, marking the full early-round demise of his first draft class.
Cine will likely go down as the second-worst draft pick in Vikings history behind linebacker Dimitrius Underwood.
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 Vikings 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.