2022 NFL draft scouting report: Georgia S Lewis Cine
Georgia S Lewis Cine
6-foot-2
199 pounds
Yahoo Sports' 2022 NFL draft grade
6.09 — possible first-rounder; possible immediate starter
TL;DR scouting report
Long, versatile safety with surprising speed, game-changing hitting ability, but he's been a limited playmaker in college
The skinny
A 4-star Rivals recruit (No. 56 nationally) in the Class of 2019, Cine picked the Bulldogs over Florida, Michigan, Penn State and Texas. He started two of 14 games as a true freshman, making 20 tackles, one INT and three passes defended, being named co-winner of Special Teams Newcomer of the Year. In 10 starts in 2020, Cine made 52 tackles (one for a loss) and three pass breakups. He finished his career strong for the national champs in 2021, with 73 tackles (two for losses), one INT and 10 pass breakups. Cine declared early for the 2022 NFL draft.
Upside
Well put-together athlete — over 6-foot-2, 32 1/4-inch arms with room to add mass if needed
Combine workout was an eye-opener — 4.37 40 (with 1.45 10-yard split), 11-foot-1 broad jump, 36.5-inch vertical
Tone setter — brings urgent play style to the party
Excellent tackler — squares up ballcarriers, seeks to make presence felt
Fearlessly comes crashing downhill to make hits, even vs. bigger RBs, TEs
Makes, quick decisive reads on routes developing in front of him
Good range to patrol half the field
Flips hips quickly and gets on his horse to defend the deep ball
Showed hints of more playmaking potential in 2021 — nine passes defended
Has played snaps at every spot in secondary — FS, SS, "Money" safety, nickel, outside CB
Role changed week by week — did whatever team needed him to
Could be tried as a possible zone CB convert — limited experience wide, more in slot
Natural in off-man coverage and zone
Has a knack for making big plays when his team needs one
Mastered Kirby Smart's complex defensive system
Good experience — two-plus years as starter vs. elite competition
Respected, trusted leader — most reliable performer in UGA secondary
Scored big points with NFL teams during interview process, especially with chalk talk
Downside
Could use a few more pounds of body armor — a tad lean
Will occasionally abandon assignments when offense is in scramble mode
Struggled in coverage in both Alabama games last season
More prone to missing tackles when he leaves his feet
Big hits occasionally cross the line — ejected in 2020 for vicious hit on Florida's Kyle Pitts
Gets back in his heels in coverage and can be caught flat-footed
Tennessee, Alabama showed no fear targeting him — struggled badly in SEC championship game
Still hesitant, less effective in man coverage
Only 2 INTs in more than 1,000 career coverage snaps
Played on historically great defense
Best-suited destination
Cine is an ascending player who could start as a rookie, either as a post safety or as a do-it-all performer. As we suggested above, projecting him to be a CB convert in a heavy zone/off-man system wouldn't be wild. But we do think there's a safety role where Cine can still be a matchup piece capable of sliding into a variety of roles based on the opponent and who's on the field.
Did you know
Cine wears No. 16 to honor his mother, Beatrice Seide, who gave birth to her son in Haiti when she was only 16 years old. She currently lives in Chile and has never seen Lewis play football in person.
Player comp
Similar physical traits to Marcus Williams and Jevon Holland, but with more edge and hitting ability — almost like a juiced-up Marquise Blair
Expected draft range
Somewhere between the 20th and 40th overall picks
