The Buffalo Bills appear to have outsmarted their AFC East rivals in the free agent market.
It was originally reported that former safety Lewis Cine, selected in the first round of the draft, would now join the Bills’ practice squad, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Cine was released by the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday, just two years after being selected with the No. 32 overall pick in the draft.
Cine, a Georgia product, has a connection to Jahmile Addae, the Bills’ new cornerbacks coach, who coached the defensive backs during the safety’s final college season (2021).
The Bills’ safeties department is in a state of flux, with longtime standouts Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde no longer part of the equation. Buffalo is expected to start Taylor Rapp along with either free agent Mike Edwards or second-round rookie Cole Bishop. Damar Hamlin and converted cornerback Cam Lewis are the backups. Edwards and Bishop, however, have missed large portions of training camp due to injuries.
“I love the group. Like I said on offense, I would love to see some of the guys get some game experience that they don’t have yet,” general manager Brandon Beane said Wednesday. “Hopefully we can avoid any setbacks with injuries in the future.”
In the meantime, Cine can serve as a talented backup while the Bills look to unlock his untapped potential.
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Cine, who turns 25 on Oct. 5, was extremely active during preseason games this summer, playing 150 snaps in Minnesota’s three exhibition games. The hard-hitting safety was responsible for 13 tackles, including a sack, and also had an interception.
In 2021, Cine was selected to the All-Southeastern Conference First Team.
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