As of today, the MN Vikings 53-man roster has ONE player on it who originated via that 2022 class — WR3 Jalen Nailor (6th rd). Ty Chandler is still (barely) hanging on, but he’s currently on the injured list, thus not on the 53-man.

But far and away, the worst mistake of Kwesi’s first draft came when he passed on (among other talents) now All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton (Ravens), wide receivers Garrett Wilson (Jets), Chris Olave and Jameson Williams, in order to drop 20 spots and, at No. 32 overall, select Georgia safety Lewis Cine.

Patriots bring in former MN Vikings safety Lewis Cine

Cine, 26, never sniffed starting reps on the Vikings defense. Eventually, at the end of 2024 training camp, Minnesota decided to cut their losses. Since, the former first round pick has bounced around the league, making stops in New York, Buffalo, and most recently, Philadelphia.

In August, he was released by the Eagles so they could pickup Sam Howell. Cine then landed a a tryout with the Indianapolis Colts, but that didn’t end in a contract. On Tuesday, however, he got another shot, this time with the New England Patriots.

The Patriots had free-agent DBs Marcus Banks (Mississippi State), Lewis Cine (Georgia) and Tre Hawkins (Old Dominion) in for tryouts.

Cine (Vikings, Bills, Eagles) has local roots from Everett, Mass.

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 21, 2025

Related: Let the Kirk Cousins + Vikings Trade Rumors Commence!

Cine finished his high school career in Texas, but his prep career began in Massachusetts, so he has familiarity with the New England area. The Patriots actually worked out three defensive backs on Tuesday and presumably have just one spot available.

In two seasons with the Vikings, Cine played just ten defensive snaps. He suffered a gruesome injury against the New Orleans Saints in London and his career has never been the same. With Buffalo in 2024, Cine didn’t see the field on defense, but logged 16 special teams snaps.

Cine was activated from the Eagles practice squad on January 8, 2025. Philadelphia went on to win the Super Bowl last season but Cine never saw action. If the Patriots offer Cine a contract, and he sees the field, it will be his first action since December 8, 2024.

The difference between Jay Ward making the roster and Lewis Cine missing it.

h/t to @LukeBraunNFL for pointing out this sequence on Locked on Vikings. pic.twitter.com/1MHOzjkGGA

— Matt Fries (@FriesFootball) August 27, 2024

Vikings paying for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s mistakes?

The Minnesota Vikings are largely built to win now, after going gangbusters in the trenches during free agency last offseason. But so far this season, we are finding out what can happen when some of those spendy free agent pickups do not live up to expectations and your team does not have the draft talent necessary to make up for those misses.

Obviously, it’s still early in the season so there is plenty of time for just like Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen and (maybe) Ryan Kelly to provide the type of impact they are being paid for. Adofo-Mensah needed to find aging veterans to fill holes he was unable to with developmental picks.

On the flip side, former Minnesota Gophers starter Max Brosmer has the NFL world buzzing due to his performance in the same time span. It was always going to be a leap for him to be the backup out of the gate. He’s definitely earned a roster spot.

When Minnesota shipped Howell out, there was just a little extra hilarity on the back-end of the transaction.

Lewis Cine loses roster spot for former Minnesota Vikings QB

On Saturday Kevin O’Connell had veteran quarterback Carson Wentz in for a workout. Things obviously went well and the Minnesota Vikings signed him to the active roster. The Philadelphia Eagles jumped at a chance to grab Howell, and it cost former Vikings first round pick Lewis Cine a job.

We have agreed to acquire QB Sam Howell and a 2026 6th-round pick from the Vikings in exchange for a 2026 5th-round pick and a 2027 7th-round pick. We have waived/injured DB Lewis Cine. pic.twitter.com/EXb7p6tCyq

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 24, 2025

Howell was originally acquired during the NFL Draft in a trade with Seattle. The got him for nothing more than a late-round pick swap. Now they have pieced him out for better draft compensation than he cost them, and Howell isn’t their problem.

Cine was drafted 32nd overall by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings in 2022. The Vikings famously, and terribly, traded back rather than drafting multi-time All-Pro Kyle Hamilton. Cine played just 10 total games for Minnesota, and his career was altered by a gruesome injury suffered in London against the New Orleans Saints.

Even had the Vikings not traded back, the pick was always a weird one. The Georgia safety was seen as more of a hitter and less of a capable defender in the secondary. With Buffalo last year, and the Philadelphia in the postseason, he never started a game and has a single tackle to his credit.

The #Eagles have waived/injured DB Lewis Cine

He was reportedly on crutches after Friday’s game

pic.twitter.com/AwLsOxYWSJ

— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) August 24, 2025

Cine did pick off a pass in the Eagles preseason finale, but apparently suffered an injury at some point as well.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Trade One QB, Sign Another

At 25 years old, things are getting late early for Cine. He hasn’t developed into any more of a capable talent as his career has gone on. Now he’s cut again for a retread backup, and Cine remains a consistent injury concern.

But there are six other teams in the NFC bracket alone, who are hoping to finish their season with a Super Bowl ring. In fact, one former Minnesota Vikings safety has found his way onto an active NFL playoff roster, and the name may surprise you.

Lewis Cine signed for Philadelphia Eagles playoff game

That’s right… former 2022 1st round pick, Lewis Cine, was swiped off the Buffalo Bills practice squad by the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday, after the Bills did the same thing to the New York Jets in early December. That means our old friend Lewis Cine is about to be active for a Philadelphia Eagles wildcard game vs the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at 3:30 PM CT.

The Eagles signed DB Lewis Cine to the active roster and opened the practice window for DT Byron Young.

— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) January 8, 2025

The Minnesota Vikings released Lewis Cine at the end of training camp, this summer. After some troubles deciding where he wanted to play, Cine eventually ended up on the New York Jets practice squad for the start of the 2024 regular season. But being on a practice squad is pretty much the same as being in free agency.

Related: Could California Wildfires Force NFL to Move Vikings vs Rams Playoff Game?

If a team wants to sign you, they can offer a contract. If said deal is signed… poof… they’re gone from the originating team. Signing a player off someone else’s practice squad, however, means they must be placed on the new team’s active roster. Thus, Lewis Cine will be suited up for the Eagles on Sunday.

New Eagles safety Lewis Cine says it felt like a reunion coming into the locker room with all his former Georgia teammates

“Walked in and it was all love” pic.twitter.com/C5S1rh1yKu

— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) January 8, 2025

What has the Minnesota Vikings former 1st round pick been up to?

The former No. 32 overall pick out of Georgia did not get a defensive snap in the one game he was active for Buffalo earlier this year, after they signed him off the Jets practice squad. He did get 16 snaps on special teams, though. They came mostly between kick return (8) and kick coverage (6).

That makes for 11 total NFL games on Lewis Cine’s resume… where he has totalled one defensive tackle, on ten snaps. Most of Cine’s regular season snaps have come on special teams.

Related: New Team Takes Interest in Minnesota Vikings DC, Another Former QB is Skeptical

In his career, according to PFF, Cine has seen 134 special teams snaps, 118 of which came as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. We’ll see if he adds some postseason reps to that resume this weekend, when the Eagles play the Packers.

For those of you who may have already forgotten, the Vikings drafted Cine with the No. 31 pick overall, in April of 2022, after trading out of No. 12 overall. Not only did Kwesi kill all the great vibes inside the Vikings draft room and draft party… he then finished an underwhelming night by selecting one of the biggest draft busts in franchise history.

Where is Lewis Cine these days? He’s in Buffalo. That’s where he landed after the Vikings waived him at the end of the 2024 NFL preseason. Upon his departure, it was originally believed he was signing with the New York Jets. But he was not a part of the London loss vs Minnesota, over the weekend, which led to the firing of their head coach.

Former Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine now plays linebacker

Before his joining the Jets became official, Cine changed his mind and signed with the Buffalo Bills. And now, it sounds like he is having second thoughts about the position he plays, too. Actually, his new team is having second thoughts.

According to Nick Sabato (Niagara Gazette), the Bills approached Lewis Cine about changing positions a few weeks ago, and he has been working as a Buffalo inside linebacker ever since.

Cine felt he needed a fresh start after two frustrating seasons with the Vikings. Little did he know, that would include a position change as the Bills have spent the last few weeks giving Cine a try at linebacker.

Early in his stint with the Bills, defensive coordinator Bobby Babich approached Cine about switching from safety to linebacker. … The Bills like their linebackers to be small and athletic so they can match up with running backs, linebackers and occasionally a receiver.

Nick Sabato – Niagara Gazette

Related: Minnesota Vikings Cut Bait with TE, Promote RB to Active Roster

Unlike the Vikings, Buffalo plays a base- 4-3 defense, but mostly lineup out of their nickel package, with 5 defensive backs on the field, and just two linebackers. Lewis Cine told the Niagara Gazette that this is the first time he has ever played linebacker. He and the Bills are selling to Sabato that “football instincts are football instincts”.

Method behind Buffalo Bills’ madness

There are so many differences in going from safety to linebacker. One pointed out in the above story, that I found very insightful, is a safety’s first step, after the ball is snapped, vs a linebacker. A safety is almost always going back, where as a linebacker’s first movement is much more dictated by the type of play being run on offense.

Cine is placing his bet on the NFL not being quite as ruthless as it is rumored to be. He and the Bills seem to have an understanding. If he is going to change positions, and set back his development even further, they have to give him time on roster to learn how to be a linebacker. Patience the Vikings did not have.

Cine feels the Bills have embraced him and he wants to return the favor by investing in what they are trying to teach.

“I’ve shown that I’m willing to learn and I pick up things kind of fast when it comes to movement and everything, but there’s obviously the learning portion of schemes and all that,” Cine said. “Learning the fronts, that doesn’t just happen in a day. That part, I know they’re being patient, but at the same time, I’ve shown I’m a ballplayer and obviously that’s going to continue.”

Niagara Gazette

Skeptical optimism…

I don’t think this is a horrible idea for the Buffalo Bills or Lewis Cine. I do wonder, however, if the end goal is feasible. If Lewis Cine had shown Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores that he had any potential as a linebacker, you’d think staying with the Vikings would have made the most sense.

Flores’ defense in Minnesota literally has a hybrid safety/linebacker role that they call their “big nickel” package, and the Vikings use it all the time. It’s Josh Metellus’ primary position. Cine came out of Georgia as a hard-hitting safety, who needed time to develop.

Related: 6 Biggest Questions Facing the Minnesota Vikings During Their Bye Week

Flores clearly didn’t think he had any hope of making that transition, otherwise he most certainly would have tried, given what the Vikings invested in Cine when they drafted him in the first round. Hopefully I am wrong. Who knows what Lewis would have been, had his leg not snapped in half a couple of years ago. If he can find a way to salvage his career, that’d be a cool redemption story.

Former Minnesota Vikings Safety Lewis Cine changes his mind

After clearing waivers on Wednesday, it was reported that Cine was signing with the New York Jets. Then, Thursday morning, we found out that he has changed his mind, and is now heading to Buffalo to sign with the Bills, according to new reports.

Yeah… about that. 😜

The #Bills are actually signing former #Vikings first-round safety Lewis Cine to their practice squad, per me and @MikeGarafolo. Many thought Cine would land with the #Jets.

But he’s flying to Buffalo now, set to sign with the Bills PS. pic.twitter.com/vzARJl6yV3

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2024

In 10 total games with the Minnesota Vikings, Lewis Cine provided just one assisted tackle. That is the only mark he has on his career box score, so far. While at Georgia, Lewis Cine was a wrecking ball safety who wasn’t afraid to lay the lumber.

His statistical totals, however, do not jump off the page either. In three seasons, he managed 145 tackles (73 in his final season), 2 interceptions, 14 passes defended and 3.5 tackles for loss. No sacks, no forced fumbles.

Related: “Watch Out” – NFL Sleeping on Vikings New Running Back?

Of note, Vikings play-by-play radio voice, Paul Allen (KFAN), first reported on Wednesday that Lewis Cine was heading to San Francisco, to sign with the 49ers. That was before news broke that he was landing with the Jets, and two steps prior to his decision (for now) to sign with Buffalo.

After two years in the Vikings system, battling injuries and unrealistic expectations, Cine was cut from the Minnesota Vikings 53-man roster on Tuesday. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah decided to keep FIVE safeties on roster. None of them were Lewis Cine.

Lewis Cine signing with the New York Jets

What’s a draft bust to do, when his original team kicks him to the curb? He tries to find another coach or executive in the league who was also high on him, back when he was drafted. For Cine, he found that coach in the Big Apple, with New York Jets head coach, Robert Salah.

Source: Lewis Cine is signing with the #Jets.

Former first-round pick starts elsewhere after Minnesota released him Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/oOoZMza70F

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 28, 2024

Cine won’t be on the Jets’ active roster. He cleared waivers, before they signed him, so they are able to move him directly to the practice squad. Had they claimed him off waivers, he would have had to be signed to the active roster.

Minnesota Vikings on the hook for nearly $7 million owed to Cine

And it’s the Minnesota Vikings, not New York Jets, on the hook for Cine’s remaining $6.8 million in guarantees, from his rookie contract. In other words, Kwesi had to pay a significant price just to get rid of his 2022 1st round pick. Meanwhile, the Jets get to try him out for cheap.

Related: “Watch Out” – NFL Sleeping on Vikings New Running Back?

For Lewis Cine’s sake, I hope he catches on in New York and finds some of the talent that had many NFL scouts excited for his NFL future, just two years ago. He didn’t ask to get overdrafted by the Vikings, and he certainly didn’t ask to get his leg snapped in half a few months later. The kid deserves a fresh start.

If he were to be elevated to the active roster before week 5, he could have a chance to play against the team that drafted him. The New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings play each other in London that week.

Which Minnesota Vikings roster moves were most surprising?

Kevin O’Connell begins his third season as the leader of the Minnesota Vikings. As he seeks to usher in a new era at the quarterback position, plenty of roster spots were in flux. The total contingent of the coaching staff found themselves responsible for roster decisions, but at least a few raised eyebrows.

Kene Nwangwu – Running Back

Minnesota opting against rostering Kene Nwangwu was certainly a surprise. The former fourth round pick carved out a role as a kick return specialist. This preseason he also flashed as a traditional running back. With the new kick return rules he seemed like someone who could shine. Minnesota clearly has other intentions there.

HOUSE CALL!

Kene Nwangwu goes 48 yards for the @Vikings TD!

📺: #LVvsMIN on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/4rloO6OlLM

— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024

Without Nwangwu in the fold, Minnesota has just a pair of running backs. Aaron Jones has previously dealt with injury and Ty Chandler doesn’t have a long track record of starting success. The Vikings likely have their eyes on another running back. That doesn’t mitigate the surprise of the Nwangwu cut.

Related: Final List of Minnesota Vikings Roster Cuts – 2024

Lewis Cine – Safety

It’s not at all surprising that Lewis Cine didn’t make the Vikings roster. It is at least somewhat surprising no trade partner emerged. Cine has played just ten defensive snaps during his career. Eight of them came last season. Despite being a first round pick, Cine has been a non-factor.

Lewis Cine Preseason Week 2:

🏈 11 total tackles
🏈 1 interception
🏈 1 pass breakup
🏈 1 sack
🏈 2 quarterback hits
🏈 1 tackle for loss
🏈 1 massive hit-stick

Led the Vikings defense in every statistic. pic.twitter.com/ZiQlzSnduv

— vikesinsider (@vikesinsider) August 17, 2024

That said, he was showcased during the Cleveland Browns preseason game and showed out. The results against the Philadelphia Eagles were not as great, and could have soured suitors. Interest was there from multiple teams, but no deal ever materialized, and it’s hard to imagine what someone with so little value would have required.

Bo Richter – OLB

Of course Richter isn’t a household name. If you watched the preseason at all though, you saw him be a complete disruptor for the Vikings. Minnesota has overhauled the edge rusher position with Johnathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel taking over. Dallas Turner is a promising rookie and Brian Flores builds his defense on the pass rush. Richter could have been kept as depth.

Bo Richter recognizes the rollout and is in the QB's lap before he even turns around. Easy work on the sack for him because he read it right. pic.twitter.com/bBrbKl9UCK

— Matt Fries (@FriesFootball) August 19, 2024

It seems unlikely that Richter will make it to the practice squad, but he would be a candidate to keep around. Van Ginkel dealt with an injury this offseason. It could take Turner a bit of time to get up to speed. It would not be at all surprising to see Richter bringing down quarterbacks on Sunday’s this season.

Tyrese Robinson – OG

This may have been more of a shock had the Vikings not found a way to keep Dalton Risner around. Despite Ed Ingram and Blake Brandel winning the starting spots, the veteran was placed on IR with a designation to return. Risner could be back as soon as Week 5, and that gives O’Connell’s offensive line a safety blanket.

Tyrese Robinson and Michael Jurgens create a wide hole for Myles Gaskin to run through, and he hits it hard, well before the LB is able to get to him and into the second level of the defense. pic.twitter.com/b4oa1gtMAi

— Matt Fries (@FriesFootball) August 21, 2024

Robinson flashed during the preseason, and there was a time where he looked to challenge Ingram. The former LSU product has not solidified his starting spot. While it won’t be Robinson who takes over for him, it could be Risner down the line.

Related: Vikings Place Separate Injury Designations on TJ Hockenson and Stud UDFA Gabe Murphy

Cut down is now behind the Minnesota Vikings. Who they claim and how their practice squad fills out is up next.

Is a Lewis Cine trade logical for the Minnesota Vikings?

It seems unlikely that the Minnesota Vikings will find a place to use safety Lewis Cine. He was on the field for just 2% of defensive snaps last season. Brian Flores has a safety position flush with better options. Cine could benefit from a change of scenery, but one still has to present itself. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell isn’t so sure that one will.

“At this point, a change of scenery would benefit Cine, who doesn’t seem likely to earn meaningful snaps in Brian Flores’ defense. It would be a surprise if any team was willing to pay even the $4 million in guarantees left on his contract, so the Vikings might need to eat some money to acquire a draft pick for him. Given Cine’s injury history, a trade might not be possible.”

Bill Barnwell on Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine

With only ten defensive snaps under his belt, Cine hasn’t been able to establish anything during regular season action. His preseason work is limited in what can be projected from it, and any new organization would be acquiring little more than a dart throw.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Proven 100% Correct About Andrew Booth Jr

If trading Cine is what Minnesota wants to do, they are running out of time.

Minnesota Vikings need to turn the page on Lewis Cine

Even if the Minnesota Vikings can’t find a trade partner for Lewis Cine, it stands to reason that the safety needs to move on. He is a cut candidate for Kevin O’Connell, and his presence the past two seasons hasn’t resulted in any substantial outcomes. Maybe someone else is able to extra value from the former first round pick, but Minnesota doesn’t need to keep trying.

Lewis Cine, safety for the Vikings, is in desperate need of a change of scenery. Brandon Beane should absolutely look into the 2022 1st round pick out of Georgia that’s now healthy. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/xxk2BVz6fo

— Jon Helmkamp (@JonHelmkamp) August 25, 2024

The Vikings will be in a situation where replacing Harrison Smith becomes reality. Cam Bynum and Josh Metellus are both next in line there. Cine is buried behind other options on the depth chart, and any future development won’t have him emerging as a starting candidate for the Vikings.

It’s unfortunate that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah missed so badly on his first ever draft pick. Of course injury has changed what the expectations may have been for Cine as well. Regardless, all sides appear better off by moving on from one another.

Related: Does Stephon Gilmore Fix the Minnesota Vikings’ Cornerback Issues?

As they head in to Week 1, it would be a small shock to see Lewis Cine on the Vikings 53-man roster.

Although they have only three draft picks in 2025, there’s a few players the Vikings could trade to earn more draft capital. At least, according to one Minnesota Vikings’ beat writer.

Three potential players the Minnesota Vikings could trade for more draft capital

According to Judd Zulgad (Skor North), there’s three potential players the Minnesota Vikings could look to trade over these next couple days. Those players are former 2022 first-round draft pick safety Lewis Cine, 2022 third-round pick inside linebacker Brian Asamoah, and 2021 third-round pick outside linebacker Patrick Jones II.

Over the next few days, @Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah may look to acquire some more draft capital heading into 2025, per @jzulgad.

Speculating, these are three potential players Adofo-Mensah could move:
1️⃣S Lewis Cine
2️⃣ILB Brian Asamoah
3️⃣OLB Patrick Jones II pic.twitter.com/oSL4g2iX4l

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) August 24, 2024

It will be interesting to see if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah tries to make any trades before cuts are announced on Tuesday. The Vikings would love to add a draft pick or two because right now they only have three for 2025, including their first-rounder. Safety Lewis Cine was clearly being showcased last Saturday against the Browns and should get plenty of snaps against the Eagles. Speculating on other players Adofo-Mensah might try to move: Linebacker Brian Asamoah, a third-round pick in 2022 and/or pass rusher Pat Jones II, a third-round pick in 2021.

Judd Zulgad (Skor North)

Cine has been talked about as a trade target before. However, he did have a strong preseason game that may be lingering in the back of Adofo-Mensah’s head. Although he was a former first-round pick, Cine just hasn’t panned out with this team. It’s extremely unfortunate, but that is the nature of the NFL sometimes.

Asamoah is an intriguing trade asset too. He was supposed to be the starting inside linebacker last season, but was beat out by undrafted free agent Ivan Pace Jr. At the time, it looked really bad on Asamoah’s end. However, Pace Jr. has turned into one of the best linebackers in the NFL.

Related: Lewis Cine Still Has Uphill Battle to Make 53-Man Roster

Zulgad listing Jones II was quite interesting as well. Jones II hasn’t done a whole lot in his NFL tenure with the Minnesota Vikings, but really seemed to take that “next step” this offseason.

What could the Minnesota Vikings’ get in return for these players?

The Vikings are unlikely to get any high-end draft picks for any of these players. You’re likely looking at a sixth or seventh round draft pick back in return. Possibly conditional measures on those picks depending on snap counts during the season.

3 out of the top 4 draft picks by #Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in 2022 are “on the ropes” of not making the 53-man roster, per @SeifertESPN 👀

“Jobs are neither won nor lost during spring practices, but anyone watching could see that three of the Vikings' top 4 picks from the… pic.twitter.com/rTdWor8juL

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) June 22, 2024

Overall, having only three picks in the 2025 NFL draft isn’t stellar. Adofo-Mensah has a chance to add more draft picks for players that likely will be cut or will see limited snaps during the season. Will Adofo-Mensah make these moves by Tuesday, August 27th at 3:00PM CST?

In his rookie season, he was beat out in training camp by incumbent safety Cam Bynum. At the time, that looked pretty bad, but has been mitigated a little bit. Bynum has turned into one of the best safeties in the NFL. Shortly after getting beat out by Bynum, Cine broke his leg pretty severely during a special teams play in London and has never quite been the same since.

Local beat writer doesn’t have Lewis Cine making the roster

With the 53-man roster deadline coming next week on August 27th, Cine is in a tough spot. He’s currently the sixth safety on the depth chart, and outside of one preseason game, he hasn’t contributed in any way. Adding more fuel to the fire, Alec Lewis (The Athletic) recently stated on his podcast, The Alec Lewis Show, that he doesn’t expect Cine to make the 53-man roster.

Per @Alec_Lewis via @AlecLewisShow, even with the impressive performance last Saturday, he still doesn't expect #Vikings S Lewis Cine to make the 53-man roster given the quality players the team will need to keep at the back end of roster 👀

"And so it is hard for me to think… pic.twitter.com/rkAWxhujVK

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) August 20, 2024

And so it is hard for me to think that Lewis Cine, even with one, I mean, really impressive performance. It’s hard for me to find a spot considering what those other guys might offer down the line.

Alec Lewis (The Athletic) via The Alec Lewis Show

Lewis’ main rationale for this is because the Minnesota Vikings have quality players that they’ll need to keep at the back end of the roster. Unless the Vikings see something else we’re not seeing as fans, Cine’s time here appears limited.

Can the Minnesota Vikings’ trade Lewis Cine instead of releasing him?

The Minnesota Vikings could absolutely trade Cine to a team. However, they probably aren’t going to get anything flashy in the return. This was mentioned by Darren Wolfson (KSTP) on Skor North the other day too.

“I think a trade makes the most sense, a seventh with maybe based on snaps that could turn into a sixth. You know, but we’re talking about a late round pick.”

Darren Wolfson (KSTP) via Skor North

Wolfson did note that a trade makes a lot of sense. However, a conditional sixth or seventh round pick is likely all the Minnesota Vikings would receive. This is better than nothing, especially if the Vikings were planning on releasing him anyways.

Related: Did T.J. Hockenson Have a Set Back While Rehabbing his Knee Injury?

In the end, the Minnesota Vikings are limited on draft capital in 2025 and getting something for nothing seems like the move here. However, there could be a small percentage that Cine makes the 53-man roster and all this a moot point. We’ll have our answer in less than a week.