When a team like the Chicago Bears doesn’t have a 1st round pick in the draft, they tend to be passed over in conversations this time of year. Follow every top draft expert, and you’ll rarely find a mention of them. Some do decide to dig deeper because even teams without 1st rounders can have good drafts if appropriately executed. It comes down to good scouting and a little bit of luck. Chad Reuter of NFL.com decided to look at what he feels they will do.
The consensus is GM Ryan Poles will focus on the offense going into this draft. It makes sense. Quarterback Justin Fields needs more help. Though the team has added pieces on the offensive line and at wide receiver, it’s felt not to be enough. They need more talent. With both position groups appearing deep in this 2022 class, it makes perfect sense one of them would be the focus of the Bears’ first pick at 39th overall. Reuter instead thinks they may pull a surprise.
This in the form of Georgia safety Lewis Cine.
Lewis Cine closing speed pic.twitter.com/KQ0oO2MHN0
— SyedSchemes (@syedschemes) January 11, 2022
Lewis Cine left a ton of bruises during his #UGA career pic.twitter.com/NEEJsSH94O
— Matt DeBary (@MattDeBary) February 16, 2022
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This is a deep safety class and #UGA Lewis Cine (16) breaks so quickly to get into the hip pocket and get the PBU. Really like his blend of skills. pic.twitter.com/MjQXYOIhdh
— Jordan Pun (@Texans_Thoughts) September 5, 2021
It isn’t hard to see why the Bears might be drawn to this young man. Both Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus have expressed a desire for a tougher, more violent football team. One that is interested in setting the tone with intensity and physicality. Cine checks those boxes in a big way. He has good size at 6’2, 200 lbs and isn’t afraid to throw it around, dealing some impressive hits throughout his college career. That, in turn, overshadows his remarkable athleticism as his 4.37-second 40-yard dash can attest.
The big question mark with him is ball skills. While Cine did have 14 passes defended over his college career, he only managed two interceptions. Given how much emphasis Eberflus and his staff put on takeaways, it is interesting how much they might hold that against him. Perhaps they think he’s capable of more, but Georgia never utilized him that way.
All that said, safety might be a bigger need than some realize for this team. Right now, their only projected starter is Eddie Jackson. The Bears did re-sign DeAndre Houston-Carson, but he’s a career backup known for his special teams work. Considering how highly this new regime values good safety play, the idea of Cine at 39th overall is far from crazy.
