The Philadelphia Eagles, fresh off their Super Bowl triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs, have made a stunning move that’s sending shockwaves through the NFL. Safety Lewis Cine, a former first-round pick and Georgia Bulldogs standout, is reportedly on the chopping block as the team prepares to trim its roster to 53 players. Cine, who signed a one-year, $1 million contract for 2025 with the Eagles—bringing his career earnings to an estimated $10.5 million—faces an uncertain future with the reigning champions.
The Eagles’ love affair with Georgia defensive talent is no secret. Dubbed the “Philly Dawgs,” the team has built the NFL’s No. 1 ranked defense around a core of former Bulldogs, including stars like defensive tackle Jordan Davis (2022, No. 13 overall), defensive tackle Jalen Carter (2023, No. 9 overall), and outside linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. (2023, No. 30 overall). Over the 2022 and 2023 drafts, Philadelphia selected five Georgia defenders, leveraging their SEC-honed grit and athleticism to dominate opponents.
Lewis Cine was expected to add to this legacy when the Eagles signed him before last year’s playoff run. A 2022 first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings, Cine brought elite pedigree, having led Georgia to a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2022. That season, he earned All-SEC honors and was named the CFP National Championship Game Defensive MVP in a thrilling victory over Alabama. At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, with a blazing 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, Cine seemed destined for stardom.
Cine’s journey, however, has been anything but smooth. Just one month into his rookie season with the Vikings, a devastating compound fracture to his left leg in Week 4 required two surgeries and sidelined him for the majority of his early career. The injury limited him to just seven games in 2023 and a single appearance for the Buffalo Bills in 2024 after being cut by Minnesota. Most of Cine’s NFL snaps have come on special teams, with only one career tackle to his name, according to Pro Football Talk.
Despite his undeniable talent, Cine’s limited on-field impact has put his roster spot in jeopardy. NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro predicts that Cine will be released as the Eagles finalize their roster. With Reed Blankenship locked in as a starter and Andrew Mukuba, Sydney Brown, and Tristin McCollum vying for the role vacated by C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s trade to the Houston Texans, Cine’s path to a significant role has narrowed. Zangaro projects Andre’ Sam as the likely final roster addition, largely due to his special teams prowess.
Cine’s journey to the NFL began under the tutelage of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders at Trinity Christian School in Cedar Hill, Texas. His high school dominance paved the way for a stellar college career at Georgia, where he became a cornerstone of the Bulldogs’ championship defense. Selected by the Vikings with a four-year, $11.49 million contract, Cine was poised for a Pro Bowl-caliber career—until his injury changed everything.
Now, as the Eagles make tough roster decisions, Cine’s $1 million deal for 2025 may mark the end of his time in Philadelphia. The move underscores the harsh reality of the NFL, where even first-round talent must fight to secure a spot.
While Cine’s future with the Eagles hangs in the balance, the team’s commitment to its Georgia pipeline remains unshaken. With four Bulldogs anchoring the starting lineup, Philadelphia’s defense continues to set the standard in the NFL. General Manager Howie Roseman’s strategy of targeting Georgia’s battle-tested defenders has paid dividends, culminating in a Super Bowl victory and a roster primed for another deep playoff run.
As the Eagles prepare for the 2025 season, all eyes will be on whether Cine can defy the odds and carve out a role—or if this bombshell roster cut marks the end of his Philadelphia story. For now, the “Philly Dawgs” legacy endures, but it may do so without one of its most promising talents.