What the Vikings can expect from new safety Lewis Cine in 2022

What can the Vikings expect from Lewis Cine in 2022?

Lewis Cine is coming into a situation that will suit him well. He will likely be the starting safety opposite Harrison Smith when the season opens up and he will be free to wreck the run game as much as he wants with Smith covering some of his issues as a coverage safety.

The Vikings will need Cine to step up and be more than just a contributor if they want the defense to improve off of last year, but he should be a clear upgrade from Cam Bynum. He can even help in the box on early downs as a sideline-to-sideline run-stopper next to Eric Kendricks, which would add a nice little wrinkle to the new defense under Ed Donatell.

There are going to be some highlight hits and probably some turnovers that come by way of Lewis Cine next season. He brings a new element of violence and detail that this defense needs in the worst way.

Even though he is not the best in coverage and with ball skills, Cine is aggressive at the catch point and uses that fire to force incompletions. He will have his fair share of splash plays over the middle in coverage.

His playstyle would make a perfect special teams ace. That will not be his ceiling, but it is also not a knock on him as a player. Cine can be an impactful piece on special teams right out of the gate and the Vikings need to clean up that aspect of the game.

The Vikings are getting a Day 1 starter that will impact the game in a multitude of ways. While they may not be getting an All-Pro from his rookie season, Lewis Cine will be the best safety this team has placed next to Harrison Smith arguably throughout his entire career. Once Smith leaves Minnesota, Cine will be ready to take over his role.