Lewis Cine signs rookie NFL contract with Minnesota Vikings

Lewis Cine has signed his first NFL contract. The former Georgia standout’s rookie deal guarantees him more than $11 million over 4 years, according to information from Cine’s representation relayed to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Vikings and the final 2022 first-round pick Lewis Cine reached agreement on a four-year, fully-guaranteed $11,494,155 deal, per his agency @rocnationsports. NFLPA has been pushing for final first-round picks to get fully guaranteed deals – process now underway.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 11, 2022

Before his rookie deal was announced, Cine had made headlines for another reason Wednesday. Cine vented on “The Richard Sherman Podcast” about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers planning to take him at No. 27 overall and then trading out of the first round.

“I had a team at 27, they know who they are,” Cine said on the podcast, per Sporting News. “I ain’t gonna say no names. It was at 27. The whole process — if you (are) there — we’re gonna pick you. OK. They move down to the first pick of the second round.”

Spotrac’s estimated difference in value between picks No. 27 and No. 32, where Cine was ultimately selected, is about $1.5 million.

The Defensive MVP of Georgia’s National Championship, Cine was a junior in 2021, He was a first-team All-SEC and third-team All-America selection by the Associated Press. Cine recorded 7 of his team-leading 73 tackles in the College Football Playoff National Championship. The standout safety also posted a team-high 9 pass breakups, including 1 in the national title game.

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.