Despite positive inroads made by new defensive coordinator and former Miami Dolphins head coach, Brian Flores, throughout the course of the 2023 season, the Minnesota Vikings still lack talent on all 3 levels of their defense.
Particularly egregious is their complete dearth of ability in the secondary, where the aged Harrison Smith leads an inexperienced group of former mid-round draft picks, with the only even somewhat highly regarded corner being Byron Murphy Jr.
As a result, general manager, Kwesi Adofo Mensah and head coach, Kevin O’Connell, both knew that reinforcements would be needed if the Vikings were to in any way seriously compete in what is quickly becoming a more and more competitive NFC North.
With that in mind, and with earlier free agent signings being focused on the first 2 levels of the defense, Minnesota has finally signed a corner with starting pedigree, per Jordan Schultz
Breaking: Free agent CB Shaq Griffin is signing with the #Vikings on a 1-year deal, up to $6M, sources tell @BleacherReport pic.twitter.com/Mup4d6LFkY
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 19, 2024
Since making the Pro Bowl in 2019, Shaquill Griffin has had a roller coaster ride of a career.
He signed a big money, 3 year, $44.5 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in March 2021, before not truly playing up to his contract and eventually being released 2 years later in March 2023.
Having been picked up by the Houston Texans later that off-season, he once again did not show enough to be kept around, and was released late into the season and picked up by the Carolina Panthers.
Now signing with the Minnesota Vikings, the question is which Shaq Griffin will they get – the Pro Bowl caliber starter, or the borderline backup that could not stay on the Jaguars or Texans’ roster.
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