Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The 2022 draft class has been one of the worst in franchise history, at least so far. Of course, sometimes decent players emerge a few years after their entry into the league, so there should still be some caution. Ed Ingram has become a solid guard for the Vikings, and barring a surprise demotion, he will remain in the starting unit.
A Trade Is the Last Chance to Save Face for Vikings’ GM
Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah looks on before the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Unfortunately, the 25-year-old LSU product is the only projected starter in the group’s third season. Akayleb Evans started in 2023, but free agent signing Shaquill Griffin seems to be in the pole position in 2024.
An honorable mention deserves running back Ty Chandler, who will play a significant role in the running game. Sixth-round wideout Jalen Nailor could be the team’s WR3 if he can usurp Brandon Powell in training camp. Linebacker Brian Asamoah showed flashes in his rookie season but barely saw the field on defense in year two.
Nick Muse is a depth tight end. Esezi Otomewo failed to make last year’s team, and Vederian Lowe was traded to New England for a sixth-round pick.
Aug 19, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (32) runs the ball as Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine (6) looks to make the tackle during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
That brings us to the two main characters of the class: Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth. The latter, a second-rounder out of Clemson, has gotten some run and actually contributed. It remains to be seen if he will be on the roster when Week 1 rolls around.
Cine, meanwhile, hasn’t contributed, which is a shame for a first-rounder. Coming out of Georgia, Cine was a highly-touted safety prospect with absurd athletic measurements. Having him next to Harrison Smith for a year or two and then having him take over as the leader in the secondary was an intriguing theory.
However, over 26 months later, the selection has been a disaster. At first, he couldn’t snatch the starting job from Camryn Bynum, then everyone figured out that he was buried on the depth chart behind Josh Metellus, and then he got hurt in London just four weeks into his NFL career. He failed to enter the lineup, but of course, the injury was an unfortunate event.
Nov 13, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell greets safety Theo Jackson (25) before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
In year two, after recovering, Cine was again stuck behind many safeties. Smith, Bynum, and Metellus started, and they showed why. All three are exceptional players. Still, Cine was not the first man off the bench, in fact, he was behind Theo Jackson and Jay Ward. That’s why the Vikings kept him inactive in many games.
Through two seasons, Cine has played in ten contests, logging one tackle in ten defensive and 118 special team snaps, and he is currently projected to be the team’s sixth safety on the depth chart. Most franchises keep four or five, showing that he very well could’ve been off the team last year.
Perhaps the front office and the coaches still see some potential and want to get something out of their costly investment.
Aug 20, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
The experiment has failed, though. It is time to move on. Cutting a first-rounder after two seasons without any impact will be held against general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who simply whiffed on his first draft pick. That happens to experienced and new GMs, but starting a tenure like that is unfortunate.
The best out for both Cine and Adofo-Mensah would be a trade. A change of scenery could help him live up to his potential. It’s quite obvious that he doesn’t play any role in Minnesota’s future plans. The GM could save face by getting something in return, although that wouldn’t be more than a similar reclamation project or a late-round pick.
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks (16) prepares for a drill during a joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings in Eagan, Minn., Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023.
A theory floating in social media amongst Vikings’ fans is a trade to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for wide receiver Treylon Burks. The 2022 first-rounder has been underwhelming through two seasons, and the Vikings could use another receiver. Burks has at least shown some flashes, so adding a draft pick to the package would be necessary.
Still, a trade would be a massive win compared to the status quo, which is that Cine is unlikely to crack the 53-man roster in Minnesota’s elite safety room.
The experiment failed, which can always happen. Regardless, delaying the inevitable and keeping the player beyond the cutdown day shouldn’t happen just because of a draft pedigree and a clearly wrong evaluation from over two years ago.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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Publish date : 2024-07-13 20:10:00
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