The Minnesota Vikings have added another player in free agency as they continue to make changes on both offense and defense.
“Breaking: Free agent CB Shaq Griffin will sign with the #Vikings on a 1-year deal, which could be worth up to $6M, according to @BleacherReport,” Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz reported on X on March 19.
The The team confirmed the signing a short time later. Vikings.com’s Craig Peters noted Griffin has 79 starts and 89 total games of experience, which will be valuable in a young cornerback room. Former Arizona Cardinals 2019 second-round pick Byron Murphy, who is just 26 years old, is currently the group's leader.
After Murphy, 2022 fourth-round pick Akayleb Evans and 2023 third-rounder Mekhi Blackmon had the most playing time at cornerback last season, according to Pro Football Reference..
Evan’s draft classmate, former second-round pick Andrew Booth, was fourth.
Griffin, 28, split last season between the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers. The Texans released him in November due to a career-low 57% snap share on defense. He had also played less than 18% of his team’s special teams snaps every year before last season.
After joining Carolina, he played in 43% of the special teams snaps. Later, his share of those snaps increased to 57% when he was with the Texans.
This change led to his departure from the Texans during the season.
Texans Cut Shaq Griffin Over Playing Time
GettyShaquill Griffin #0 of the Houston Texans.
“Griffin was starting until former first-round draft pick Derek Stingley Jr. was activated from injured reserve,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson wrote on November 29. “Griffin played sparingly the past few games, playing on special teams while Stingley intercepted two passes.
“The Texans released Griffin primarily because he was no longer playing on defense, which represented a big change in status for the former third-round draft pick from Central Florida, and they wanted to utilize other players they considered had more value and experience on special teams, according to sources.”
Houston waived Griffin on November 29 and Carolina won their claim for him on November 30.
Griffin signed a three-year, $40 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of the 2021 season only to be cut in what was largely a cost-cutting move two years later.
The 6-foot corner has made $34.3 million in career earnings, according to Spotrac, who also projected that he would land a one-year, $2 million contract in free agency. This is three times less than what the Vikings offered him over the same period.
Opposing passers have completed at least 60% of their passes in Griffin’s direction in all but one of his previous seven seasons in the league.
That lone season was his Pro Bowl campaign in 2019.
Griffin has seven interceptions in his career, making one last season after a two-year drought. He set a career-high with three picks in 2020. Ideally, Blackmon, Booth, Evans, and even Murphy all make big improvements this season, making Griffin more of an insurance policy.
Vikings Begin New Era on Both Sides of the Ball After Free Agency
GettyGeneral manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (L) and Head coach Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings' General Manager and Head Coach are entering unknown territory. They need to get a new quarterback to replace Kirk Cousins. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is also facing challenges after losing top players from the previous year to free agency. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Head Coach Kevin O’Connell. They must prepare journeyman Sam Darnold to take the reins from Kirk Cousins.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is in a similar spot. He lost his top three edge rushers from 2023 — Danielle Hunter, D.J. Wonnum, and Marcus Davenport — to free agency.
Opening day starting middle linebacker Jordan Hicks left in free agency too.
Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel step in on the edges. The latter has experience playing under Flores. And Blake Cashman, Greenard’s former teammate on the Texans, replaces Hicks.
With all of the new faces on the Vikings being integrated following free agency, it could prove beneficial in the locker room and huddle that several already have a rapport.
