With the first preseason game in the books, there are only a couple more chances for players to make an impression on their coaching staff and avoid getting cut on roster cutdown day. For the Minnesota Vikings, it should come as no surprise that one of their former first-round picks could be in danger of getting cut when the team goes from 90 to their 53-man roster.
A number of media outlets have identified 2022 first-round pick Lewis Cine as a potential roster casualty. The latest in that long line is Bleacher Report. Kristopher Knox, a Bleacher Report NFL correspondent, recently identified several higher-profile players who could get cut before the season begins, and Cine is an obvious choice for the Vikings.
The Cine choice was an odd one at the time, and bad luck has turned a curious choice into a full-blown draft bust. Cine broke his leg early in his rookie season, and he’s never been the same player since. Now, it looks like Cine could be on the outside looking in when it comes to making the team in 2024.
One thing working in Cine’s favor is that it would actually cost the Vikings money to cut him at this point. If the Vikings were to release Cine now, it would cost them just over $2 million in cap space. That may not be a hindrance, as Minnesota may choose to just eat the money and cut ties now. More likely, however, is the team shopping Cine and hoping to trade him to get another team to take on that monetary responsibility.
A trade, though, is unlikely, given Cine’s lack of performance. Combined with the impressive camp that players like Theo Jackson have turned in this summer, it seems unlikely that Cine will be back for another season in purple and gold.
