NFL Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine. © Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports.
Nobody wants him — at least not on his 1st-Round rookie contract.
That’s the word on former Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine, who the club waived on Tuesday amid roster cutdowns. Then, Tuesday turned into Wednesday, and no NFL team claimed Cine off waivers.
The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov tweeted Wednesday, “Former Vikings S Lewis Cine went unclaimed on waivers and is now a free agent.”
Any team — any team at all — could’ve added the young defender to its 53-man roster and owned his rights for the next 2-3 years. But because Cine has $4 million guaranteed left on his rookie deal, all general managers evidently said, “No thanks.”
The next step for Cine? Free agency. Like the waiver process, any NFL can now explore his status as a free agent, and adding him would become more affordable. Minnesota will remain on the hook for Cine’s rookie contract, which they would’ve expected when waiving him on Tuesday.
Without Cine, Minnesota will showcase these safeties in 2024:
Minnesota also re-signed Cine’s former teammate, Bobby McCain, a fellow safety, to the practice squad on Wednesday. It is unclear if Minnesota would consider re-upping with Cine for the same arrangement. Probably not.
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 swiped 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 plainly — Cine is not needed on the current Vikings roster, nor was he last year. The Vikings have “too many” playable safeties.
Cine flashed in the preseason game a week and a half ago, pestering several Browns reserve players. His 53-man roster stock climbed, at least according to fans who want him to succeed. Many believed he’d make the 53-man roster. No cigar.
Some team will eventually do the diligence on Cine’s free agency, so keep an eye on the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and Tennessee Titans. Those clubs have coaching or geographical ties to Cine, and the Titans might flat-out need safety depth.
Cine’s draft mate and former teammate Andrew Booth made the Dallas Cowboys’ active roster on Tuesday. The Vikings traded him two weeks ago.
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.