Lewis Cine Resurfaces for Another NFL Workout
Former Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine isn’t terribly old, but he’s having difficulty finding employment through seven weeks of 2025. Cine will hope that a tryout with the New England Patriots does a body good, auditioning for Mike Vrabel’s team this week.
The guy doesn’t necessarily have staying power, but Lewis Cine continues to claw his way through NFL auditions, hoping to find a new gig before too long.
Cine last played for the Philadelphia Eagles, failing to latch onto a new squad for the 2025 regular season.
Lewis Cine to the Patriots?
The guy probably deserves to be on a practice squad at the very least.
Patriots Give Lewis Cine a Look
It may be New England for Mr. Cine.
NBC Sports‘ Michael David Smith wrote Wednesday, “Lewis Cine, a safety who was a 2022 first-round pick of the Vikings, had a tryout with the Patriots on Tuesday.”
“Cine played only 10 defensive snaps during his time with the Vikings. He suffered a very serious leg injury during Week Four of his rookie year, ending that season, and when he returned for his second season he was used almost exclusively on special teams. The Vikings cut him before the 2024 season.”
A practice squad role would likely be the arrangement for Cine if the tryout proceeds to a contract.
New England’s Safeties
If Cine gets the nod for Vrabel’s team, he’d join these safeties:
- Craig Woodson
- Jaylinn Hawkins
- Kyle Dugger
- Dell Pettus
- Brendon Schooler
- Richie Grant (Practice Squad)
None of those safeties are playing at an elite level or anywhere close, with Woodson and Hawkins leading the way. Both have Pro Football Focus scores in the low 60s.
Cine certainly wouldn’t project to start or steal any of Woodson or Hawkins’ playing time, but he’d become an option for depth if injuries emerged.
Cine’s Career to Date
Every draft junkie pegged Lewis Cine as a late-1st or early-2nd-round talent in 2022 — and every one of them whiffed. Minnesota took the swing anyway, and the experiment blew up fast, not helped by a broken leg that wrecked his rookie year before it even really started.
When the Vikings drafted him, they clearly assumed Harrison Smith would hang it up soon. He didn’t — and hasn’t. Instead, Smith stayed sharp while the safety room stayed loaded. By the time Cine got healthy, there wasn’t a role left for him. He couldn’t climb past Smith, Camryn Bynum, Josh Metellus, or Jay Ward, and now Theo Jackson is filling the very spot that could’ve been Cine’s.
Cine’s four-year tour looks like this:
- Minnesota Vikings (2022–2023)
- Buffalo Bills (2024)
- Philadelphia Eagles (2024–2025)
He never stuck anywhere, though he did walk away with a Super Bowl ring from Philadelphia last season — even if he didn’t play a down to earn it.
Other Ex-Vikings in NE
Cine to the Patriots makes a lot of sense, believe it or not. Former Vikings players trying on New England for size are a thing in 2025.
These former purple players are now on New England’s depth chart:
- Garrett Bradbury (C)
- Stefon Diggs (WR)
- Joshua Dobbs (QB)
- Vederian Lowe (OT)
- Jaquelin Roy (DT, IR)
- Khyiris Tonga (NT)
Diggs is the most famous, the executor of the Minneapolis Miracle eight years ago. Dobbs also had his interstellar run in Minnesota for 2.5 weeks in 2023. And then Bradbury served as Minnesota’s full-time center for six seasons. Tonga is a starter, believe it or not.
Cine might feel right at home.
More on New England’s Defense
The Patriots’ defense ranks ninth leaguewide per EPA/Play entering Week 8, just five spots beneath Minnesota.
NESN’s Tyler Maher noted on the group this week, “While Drake Maye’s breakout season has given the Patriots’ offense a spark, their defense has stepped up as well. It’s been one of the best units in the NFL this year, ranking fifth in points per game allowed and 11th in yards allowed per game.”
“The secondary has struggled a bit under new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, but New England’s run defense has been outstanding, ranking third in rushing yards per game, rushing yards per attempt and rushing touchdowns allowed. The Patriots have consistently shut down opponents’ ground games.”
New England faces Cleveland on Sunday, and that showdown should be a defensive slog.
“In fact, they are the only NFL team this year to not allow an opposing player to rush for at least 50 yards against them through Week 7 — the first time in franchise history they’ve achieved that. New England has faced some good running backs, too, making its streak even more impressive. The Patriots have bottled up Ashton Jeanty, De’Von Achane, Jaylen Warren, James Cook and Alvin Kamara, holding them all under 50 rushing yards,” Maher continued.
“The unit’s turnaround under Williams and Mike Vrabel’s coaching staff has been impressive. New England had one of the worst run defenses in the league last year, ranking 23rd in rushing yards allowed.”
Cine turned 26 a couple of weeks ago.
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