The Most Likely Landing Spots for Shaquill Griffin
The Minnesota Vikings have not re-signed Shaquill Griffin this offseason, despite representing a possible contingency plan of sorts, at least per fans’ estimation.
Former Vikings cornerback Shaquill Griffin still needs a new team, and here’s where he might land.
Griffin remains a free agent and should sign with a new team before too long.
Therefore, these are possible landing spots for the veteran cornerback listed in ascending order (No. 1 = top Shaquill Griffin destination).
6. Jacksonville Jaguars
A man named Kris Richard defensively coordinated the Seattle Seahawks when Griffin’s NFL career got off the ground, and now Richard is the Jaguars’ defensive backs coach.
Griffin could serve as CB insurance for the current Jaguars starters, Jarrian Jones and Tyson Campbell.
The ex-Vikings defender also played for Jacksonville in 2021 and 2022, so this one would be a reunion.
5. Detroit Lions
Deshea Townsend is the Lions’ defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach, and he worked with Griffin in Seattle as a defensive passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach.
Detroit witnessed firsthand how injuries can ruin roster depth — the Lions’ pass rushers struggled when Aidan Hutchinson was lost for the year in 2024 — meaning maybe they’ve learned their lesson, on the whole.
Griffin would slide in on the depth chart behind D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, and Amik Robertson.
4. Minnesota Vikings
If the Vikings wanted Shaquill Griffin, they likely would’ve signed him by now. Still, a glimmer of hope remains that Griffin could rejoin the purple team, particularly if an injury arose in the next couple of months.
Griffin wasn’t elite in 2024, but he avoided major mistakes.
3. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks drafted Griffin in 2017 and have actually expressed interest in him — a couple of times — this offseason.
They may eventually bite the bullet and onboard him to the summer roster.
Seattle Sports‘ Cameron Van Til wrote last month, “ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Seahawks are in the market for veteran cornerback help and that the one-time Pro Bowler is high on the team’s list. Griffin departed during free agency in 2021 and spent the past four seasons with four different teams.”
“He started 14 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 and five games for them in 2022 before landing on injured reserve with a back injury. Then after splitting 2023 with the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers, he spent 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings. Griffin appeared in all 17 games with the Vikings last year, including three starts.”
Griffin is the very definition of a “sport starter” at this stage of his career.
Van Til added, “He had two interceptions and six pass breakups, while ranking 64th out of 116 qualified cornerbacks in Pro Football Focus grading. The Seahawks have a good cornerback duo in two-time Pro Bowler Devon Witherspoon and one-time Pro Bowler Riq Woolen. However, their depth at the position is relatively thin, and they could use another player to challenge Josh Jobe for the third cornerback spot.”
“There’s also some long-term uncertainty at the position, with Woolen heading into the final year of his rookie contract and Jobe on a one-year deal.”
2. Las Vegas Raiders
Pete Carroll brought Griffin into the NFL as the head coach of the Seahawks eight years ago, and Carroll is now calling the shots in Las Vegas.
One might be hard-pressed to find a worse cornerback group in the entire NFL than the Raiders, meaning the group needs all the love it can get.
Griffin, an experienced veteran, would be perfect for Las Vegas.
FieldGulls.com‘s Mookie Alexander wrote about Griffin’s possible fit in Las Vegas: ‘The obvious tie-in for Griffin and the Raiders is the presence of head coach Pete Carroll, who was Shaquill’s coach in Seattle from 2017 until 2020. If you’ve forgotten Griffin as a Pro Bowl corner, he was listed as an alternate for the 2019 season.”
“Griffin was most recently with the Minnesota Vikings on a one-year contract, recording two interceptions and playing a significant role in Minnesota having one of the top defenses in the NFL. After a short and mostly forgettable time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Griffin has been on three teams over the past two seasons, but his Vikings stint was his best season post-Seahawks career.”
Griffin will turn 30 next month.
Alexander added, “Griffin is still only 29 years old and could be quality depth for whichever team signs him. The Seahawks have clearly been eying some cornerback help below established starters Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon. In addition to Griffin, the Seahawks also met with Rasul Douglas but that has not led to a contract.”
1. Washington Commanders
All sorts of executives, scouts, and coaches who once worked for the Seahawks when Griffin played there — are now employed in Washington.
If the Commanders, for example, lose out on the Jaire Alexander sweepstakes, Griffin would symbolize a decent consolation prize.
Girffin would likely be the CB4 in Washington. Commanders’ defensive backs coach Tommy Donatell, the son of Ed Donatell, worked with Griffin, too, in Seattle. It’s a fit.
Wherever Griffin lands, he’ll likely be quite affordable, probably around $3 million or $4 million.
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