What the Vikings are hoping to get from rookie S Lewis Cine

The Minnesota Vikings already have one great safety in Harrison Smith. He is a six-time Pro Bowler and is arguably just a Super Bowl ring away from having a great case for the Hall of Fame. But, the team is still looking for someone to help him out on the other side. The Vikings may have found the future of the safety position in Minnesota in Georgia's Lewis Cine. They used the last pick of the first round of the draft on the national champion defender. 

Cine had a very nice college career in Athens. He was a very steady playmaker on the back end of Kirby Smart's No. 1-ranked defense in America. The Texas native went from making 19 tackles as a freshman in in 2019 to 52 in 2020 to 73 in 2021. He led Georgia with nine passes defensed in 2021, which helped him earn both All-SEC honors and All-American honors. Cine runs like an elite receiver (4.37 40-yard dash), which is a problem for ball handlers. What helps him stand out from other defensive prospects is his goal to deliver pain on every play. He is extremely explosive and is extremely solid in pass-coverage. His presence on special teams is very useful too. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound safety will play bigger than his frame indicates.

The Vikings haven't had a valuable No. 2 safety since Anthony Harris, who led the NFL in interceptions in 2019 with six. Cine could possibly become what Harris was before he left to join the Eagles last season. Minnesota already has an elite defense. Along with Harrison Smith, All-Pro edge-rushers Za'Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter rush the quarterback, All-Pro linebacker Eric Kendricks patrols the middle of the field, and future Hall of Fame cornerback Patrick Peterson guards the boundary. If Lewis Cine can be the playmaker that he was for Georgia , the Vikings will have an elite present and future ahead of them on defense.