The Minnesota Vikings went into the 2022 NFL Draft armed with a lot of picks. They ended up making 10 selections and things didn't go the way they had planned.
Of their 10 selections, the hope was that the Vikings would have starters at safety, cornerback, guard and linebacker by the beginning of the 2024 season. As things sit right now, the only one who looks to be a starter is guard Ed Ingram.
The 2022 NFL Draft class has been a major disappointment and the first round pick safety Lewis Cine is the biggest of them all. He's facing a make-or-break season in 2024 which The Draft Network's Justin Melo highlighted.
Cine was often a healthy scratch throughout his sophomore campaign. The former Bulldog's first-round status likely salvages his roster spot as the Vikings would forfeit $2.2 million in cap space while paying $9 million in dead cap over two years if he's released. A make-or-break training camp period appears on the horizon for Cine. The Vikings are undeniably running out of patience.
It's a tough one for Cine. He is firmly fifth or sixth on the safety depth chart playing in a scheme that isn't a great fit for him. Cine thrives in attacking downhill and making explosive plays, but his tackling isn't great. That's why he was a great fit for what Ed Donaltell wanted to do, as that style of defense was more about gang tackling.
Will Cine even make the team this year? My latest 53-man roster projections don't have him making the team and that would be a huge loss for the Vikings in terms of an asset.
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