Vikings Draft Lewis Cine at No. 32 – Draft Profile and Team Fit

With the 32nd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings draft Lewis Cine, safety, out of Georgia. The fifth Georgia defensive player to be selected in the opening round, Cine exudes confidence and intellectual ability both on and off the football field. One would be hard-pressed to find a safety that hits harder than Cine. Let’s take a closer look at the newest Vikings’ defensive back.

Lewis Cine Highlights

Vikings Draft Lewis Cine | 2022 NFL Draft Profile

Lewis Cine
Position: Safety
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 200 lbs
Age: 22
College: Georgia Bulldogs

Lewis Cine Draft Profile

Strengths

There’s nothing like it in football when a hard-nosed safety times the snap count and blasts through a gap to deliver a bone-crunching hit. Few players in the 2022 NFL Draft class are as equipped to do so as Lewis Cine. The Haitian-born prospect seeks to punish offensive ball-carriers on each and every down. Cine delivers the kind of hits that can rally an entire defense. Of course, playing the position of safety also requires adequate pass coverage skills. Cine displayed a keen awareness and oftentimes beat receivers to the catch point in college. He is also more than capable of switching assignments mid-play when operating in a zone scheme.

Weaknesses

While Cine does a lot of things well in pass coverage, this area of his game stands to improve the most at the next level. His backpedal in coverage is not smooth. He occasionally tangles himself up due to a lack of fluidity in his lower body mechanics. Another concern regarding Cine is his mediocre size. Some feel that he will need to gain more mass and strength to be an effective tackler at the NFL level.

RELATED | Full Lewis Cine NFL Draft Profile and Highlights

Lewis Cine Stats 2021 | Georgia

What to Expect From Lewis Cine in 2022

Coming into Night 1 of the draft, the Minnesota Vikings held the No. 12 overall pick. Based on the team’s current depth chart, it was clear that the defensive backfield would be a high priority. Not only did the Vikings accumulate assets by trading back, but they drafted one of the best DBs in this class. Lewis Cine may not have been graded as high as some other safeties, but he has just as much potential. He will be an immediate factor in a Vikings secondary that includes Patrick Peterson, Harrison Smith and not much else. Cine’s prowess as a run-stopper will enable him to be an every-down player. Look for his awareness as a pass defender to improve quickly with proper coaching.