Minnesota Vikings Sign Pro Bowl Cornerback Shaquill Griffin

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Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah knew that cornerback had to be a major target in NFL free agency with the issues we saw at this position during the 2023 campaign. The front office head addressed that position on Tuesday by signing veteran cornerback Shaquill Griffin.

According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, the deal is worth up to $6 million for one season. Sure, this is not going to be the last addition to the Vikings’ cornerback room during the offseason. But adding a 28-year-old veteran with valuable starting experience and plenty of years left in his prime is a big get.

A third-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks out of Central Florida in the 2017 NFL Draft, Griffin has 79 career starts under his belt. The expectation is he’ll compete with the likes of 2022 fourth-round pick Akayleb Evans, as well as (hopefully) Andrew Booth Jr, for playing time behind Byron Murphy at cornerback.

What the Minnesota Vikings Are Getting in Shaquill Griffin

Houston Texans' Shaquill Griffin
Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

He started 53 games in four seasons with Seattle before signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars on a big-money contract ahead of the 2021 campaign. It never worked out in Duval after Griffin earned a Pro Bowl spot back in 2019 with Seattle.

Last season saw Griffin split time between the Carolina Panthers and aforementioned Texans. He appeared in 13 games with seven starts. Opposing quarterback posted a 60.5% completion and 72.4 QB rating when targeting him in coverage.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Sign Former Rams D-Lineman, Jonah Williams

Of course, there is an expectation that Minnesota will add another cornerback early in the 2024 NFL Draft after it acquired an additional first-round pick in a trade with the Texans last week.

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