Lewis Cine explains emotions that comes with becoming a first-round pick
The Minnesota Vikings used the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft‘s first round to select former Georgia standout Lewis Cine. For a while, however, Cine assumed he wouldn’t hear his name called until day two. As fate would have it, the Vikings would swoop in with the hopes of selecting their star safety of the future.
“I joke about it now, but [draft] night was kind of nerve racking, I was sweating,” Cine said in his introductory press conference with the Vikings. “I kind of was like, ‘Man, I guess I’m going to go day two,’ so I went on the couch, about to take a nap, and that’s when my phone started ringing, it said, ‘Minneapolis,’ so I was like, ‘oh my god.’ I picked up the phone and [Vikings general manager] Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah] was talking and then kind of passed the phone around, but I was really excited to get the call.”
In his final season with Georgia, Cine helped to end a four-decade national championship drought when the Bulldogs defeated Alabama in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Additionally, the former Georgia star received the gigantic honor of being named the 2022 National Championship Defensive MVP for his efforts against the Crimson Tide.
Most importantly to the Vikings, however, Cine has the potential to evolve into one of the top defensive backs in the entire NFL despite falling to nearly the second round. He steadily improved throughout his time at Georgia, accumulating 144 total tackles, 14 pass deflections and two interceptions for a loaded Bulldogs squad over three seasons.
Being the final pick of the first round, however, not only means that Cine can forever say he was a first-round NFL Draft pick, but also helps him out financially, as there is a significant drop in guaranteed cash between the last pick in the first round and the first pick of the second.
If Cine’s career plays out how the Vikings perceive it to be, that rookie money wouldn’t have made much of a difference a decade down the road. Still, no one can ever take away his status as a first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
“Man, that’s something I can look back and just be proud of,” Cine said about being the final first round draft choice. “But at the same time, I know that I’ve gotten the chance to be a first round pick by team that I want to play for, but I know there’s yet a whole lot to come. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
“So I’ll be consistent, come day in and day out, ready for work ready to learn and let everything handle itself.”