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<\/p>\nMinnesota Vikings\u00a0safety\u00a0Lewis Cine\u2018s spot is not secure going into the 2024 season.<\/p>\n
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The first pick by the new Vikings regime under general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Cine has not panned out as expected. His rookie year was deferred due to a lower leg fracture three weeks into the 2022 season but has had\u00a0no limitations physically\u00a0since spring OTAs and minicamps last year.<\/p>\n
Under Brian Flores, the Vikings deployed three safeties on the field in various positions. Still, five players logged more snaps at safety than Cine. On a\u00a0four-year, $11.4 million contract, Cine was a healthy scratch in 8 of 17 games this season and logged just eight defensive snaps \u2014 all in a blowout Week 16 loss to the\u00a0Green Bay Packers.<\/p>\n
Adofo-Mensah\u2019s first draft class has come under scrutiny considering the lack of return on his top picks \u2014 namely Cine and second-round corner\u00a0Andrew Booth Jr. The Vikings general manager told local reporters in his end-of-year news conference that while Cine and Booth\u2019s stories are unwritten, their futures with the team certainly aren\u2019t either.<\/p>\n
\u201cCine didn\u2019t have a rookie year pretty much,\u201d Adofo-Mensah said, per\u00a0The Star Tribune. \u201cHe got the injury and now he comes to learn a new defense with Brian Flores, so I think that has to be considered. Then, Andrew Booth, same thing, learning from a new defense, adjusting to this style of play. We are continuing to believe in our people, pour into them with our player development resources \u2013 all the things we have in this building \u2013 but, as I said earlier, it is a results business at the end of the day, and we will see where we end up.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nAdofo-Mensah\u2019s decision to trade the 12th overall pick he inherited from the shortcomings of the final year under Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer has only haunted him so far.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Enter the draft with just three selections inside the top 150 picks, Adofo-Mensah dealt the\u00a0Detroit Lions\u00a0the 12th and 46th picks in his first draft for No. 32, 34 and 66. Through several other trades, Adofo-Mensah moved up and down the draft board \u2014 including with the Packers, who took receiver\u00a0Christian Watson\u00a0at No. 34. Adofo-Mensah ultimately turned the first three picks (No. 12, 46 and 77) into six selections, picks No. 32, 42, 59, 66, 165, and 169.<\/p>\n
Here are the players he selected in those first five rounds:<\/p>\n
Rd. 1, No. 32:<\/strong>\u00a0S Lewis Cine Outside of Ingram, who has shaped up to be a serviceable starting guard, and Chandler, the Vikings haven\u2019t seen much from their top draftees from two years ago \u2014 especially their top four picks.<\/p>\n There\u2019s likely some buyer\u2019s remorse in the building considering\u00a0Kyle Hamilton, who earned an All-Pro nod with the\u00a0Baltimore Ravens\u00a0in his second season as a pro, and\u00a0Kansas City Chiefs\u00a0cornerback\u00a0Trent McDuffie, Pro Football Focus\u2019 eighth highest-graded cornerback, were both available at No. 12.<\/p>\n Adofo-Mensah\u2019s second rookie class is already looking much better with Jordan Addison,\u00a0Mekhi Blackmon\u00a0and\u00a0Ivan Pace Jr.\u00a0looking like steady contributors for the future.<\/p>\n Pro Football Focus has the Vikings\u2019 No. 2 in wins above replacement (WAR) from rookies on a per snap basis \u2014 meaning the Vikings got the second-highest quality snaps out of their rookies that played \u2014 second only to the\u00a0Houston Texans\u00a0who rode\u00a0C.J. Stroud\u00a0and\u00a0Tank Dell to their first playoff berth in four years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Top 10 in WAR per snap:<\/p>\n Texans
\nRd. 2, No. 42:<\/strong>\u00a0CB Andrew Booth Jr.
\nRd. 2, No. 59:<\/strong>\u00a0G Ed Ingram
\nRd. 3, No. 66:<\/strong>\u00a0LB Brian Asamoah
\nRd. 4, No. 118:<\/strong>\u00a0CB Akayleb Evans
\nRd. 5, No. 165:<\/strong>\u00a0DT Esezi Otomewo
\nRd. 5, No. 169:<\/strong>\u00a0RB Ty Chandler<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nVikings
\nLions
\nDolphins
\nPackers
\nSteelers
\nSeahawks
\nBills
\nTitans
\nRaiders<\/p>\n
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