With roster cuts looming, NFL teams will make significant moves to trim their rosters down to the 53-man limit. Players will be released, but NFL teams are also no stranger to trading players to free up roster spots or give a player a chance at a fresh start without releasing him outright.
The Minnesota Vikings made a move this preseason, trading former 2022 second-round pick Andrew Booth Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for 2021 third-round pick Nahshon Wright. The trade was a classic case of two players needing a change of scenery to get their careers back on track. However, the Minnesota Vikings still have one more player on their roster, and one NFL analyst believes the team could go on a shopping spree before the regular season even begins.
2022 first-round pick Lewis Cine hasn’t had the start to his career he envisioned. After battling a season-ending injury in his rookie season, the former Georgia Bulldog never found his footing with the Vikings. With five players currently ranked ahead of him in the safety department, it’s safe to assume the 24-year-old won’t be with the Vikings next season. Cine has spent most of his time playing on the third line of defense during training camp and hasn’t been able to make an impression this summer that would have pushed him up the rankings.
Lewis Cine in the third team D against the first team O pic.twitter.com/WvapSTnvO3
– Dustin (@Dust_Vikings) 7 August 2024
However, one NFL analyst believes the Vikings could trade Cine to get some value in return for the former first-round pick. Ryan Fowler of Bleacher Report recently published his latest article examining a player every NFL team should put on the trade list this preseason. To no one’s surprise, his choice for the Minnesota Vikings was Cine.
“It’s difficult to predict where Cine’s snaps will come from this fall,” Fowler explains in his article. “With Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum and emerging talent Josh Metellus all likely locked into contributing roles as multi-level defenders, Cine’s snaps could come exclusively on special teams. Cine still has value on the market, especially for teams that entered the draft process with high ratings for his play.”
While the Vikings likely won’t get much back in a Cine trade, the team could look to at least get something for the defensive back to an organization that believes it can help him reach his potential. With the player likely to be released in the third year, an NFL team is unlikely to give up any significant assets for him. Still, a parting of the ways between the two parties seems likely and could happen within a matter of weeks.
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