Georgia football DB Lewis Cine is easily a first round pick

One of the best ways to describe Georgia football safety Lewis Cine is raw aggression. As much as this is a compliment, it’s also a great injustice because he is a technically-gifted defensive back who quickly became a fan favorite during his time in Athens.

That gritty style of play and his physical ability has also caught the eyes of NFL teams, as Cine could end up being a first-round selection.

Cine hails from Massachusetts, where he played high school football at Everett for three years. However, he rose to prominence during his junior year before transferring to Trinity Christian in Texas to complete his high school football career.

His profile rose rapidly, and he was soon aggressively recruited by both Texas and Texas A&M. However, Georgia won out for Cine’s signature. He went on to have three successful years in Athens, culminating in a national championship ring.

Cine finished his college career with 144 total tackles, 95 solo ones, two interceptions, and 14 pass deflections. He also led the national championship team in tackles.

Georgia football defensive back Lewis Cine could be a first-round draft pick.

The national championship game in Indianapolis was a fitting end to Cine’s fantastic Georgia career as he won defensive player of the game, recording seven tackles.

While he is infamous for his big hits, draft analysts are excited by Cine’s aggressive tackling, straight-line speed and versatility. These traits are vitally important for modern-day safety, an incredible knack for reading the play, and leadership attributes. Cine has all of those making him one of the top safeties in the 2022 draft class.

With his show-stopping stats at the NFL Combine, the level of interest in Cine grew significantly.

Cine stunned those in attendance with a 4.37 40 yard time which meant he outran Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton, who ran a 4.59. Cine also had an 11’1 broad jump and 36.5″ on the vertical.

These stats now have him on the radar of all 32 NFL teams if he wasn’t already there.

Where Georgia football defensive back Lewis Cine fits

Let’s see where Georgia’s tenacious safety would make a good fit in the NFL.

First up, could the Dallas Cowboys spend a first-round pick on Cine? Well, yes, they could. With the No. 24 pick, the Cowboys will look to shore up what ultimately became a problematic defensive unit in 2021.

We suggested that Dallas could take Nakobe Dean as a first-round pick. However, if those Cowboys don’t select a linebacker at this stage, safety is a need for Dallas, and Cine’s aggressive play would prove to be a hit with head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

The Washington Commanders secured their quarterback for the season, securing a trade with the Indianapolis Colts to bring in Carson Wentz.

So while we can’t rule out Washington doing Washington things, let’s assume the quarterback position is full. There is a suggestion that the Commanders would select Kyle Hamilton if he were still there at pick No. 11, but I don’t think Hamilton is still on the board then.

The Commanders have the No. 42 overall pick, and if Cine is still on the board would be an attractive selection and a choice they would find hard not to take.

It would fill a real need and be a good value for Washington in the second round.

The New England Patriots have the first-round No. 21 overall pick and the No. 54 pick in the second round.

Patriots’ draft day track record suggests that Bill Belichik will trade the first-round pick and move back.

The return of Devin McCourty for the Patriots will be a massive boost, given his leadership role on the defensive side of the ball. But at 35, his years playing in the NFL are limited, and this would be a perfect opportunity to bring a young player in to learn from a player who may well end up being a Hall of Famer. Cine should be that player.

Philadelphia is an intriguing proposition given that they have three first-round selections with the No.15, No.16, and No.19 picks, which allows them to fill needs and take the best players available.

Picking up a safety is a significant need for the Eagles, who seemed incapable of protecting coverage last season. The aggressive nature of Cine allied to his speed would make him a good fit in Philly.

Wherever Lewis Cine lands, he will be an instant hit with his new NFL team. A player who became a leader and fan favorite in Athens will mean Bulldog fans will follow and support this athletic and aggressive defender.