Texans' Griffin Reveals Role on New Team

The Houston Texans signed Shaquill Griffin this offseason, hoping to add some depth, or perhaps, a starting cornerback to the roster.

Griffin was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2017 and started every game he played in (except for four during his rookie season) through 2020. He logged 48 pass breakups and six interceptions during that span and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2019.

Griffin's solid NFL start earned him a hefty three-year, $40 million contract from the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent in 2021. However, a back vertebral fracture in Week 6 sidelined him for the rest of last season, which eventually got him cut.

Sensing that the 28-year-old still had a lot of fight left in him, the Texans brought him in on a one-year deal.

Now that Griffin is healthy enough to press the restart button in Houston, he feels like he's back to his old self.

“I’m finally getting to full speed and getting to move how I used to move back in the day, which is really good and I’m really confident about that," Griffin said during Thursday's press conference. "It’s been a special moment for me getting to move the way I’ve been moving out there today.”

Griffin is entering a defensive back room that has a ton of young and older talent. Nevertheless, Griffin thinks the room is "stacked."

"I’ve seen [cornerback Derek] Stingley [Jr.] stepping up in a big way," Griffin said. "I see [safety Jalen] Pitre being the leader in that room that we need him to be. Steve [Nelson] is just a savvy vet, so it’s good to just continue to learn from a guy like that."

Griffin will battle for one of two somewhat-open cornerback spots with Desmond King II and Steven Nelson. However, he's checked other goals off his list first.

Griffin has already endured the mentor role in his short time in Houston, something he emphasized accomplishing when he signed.

"There are some special guys out there and I could only imagine what they could do with my type of knowledge and their type of skillset," Griffin said. "I’m never the type to keep it to myself and I’m ready to give whatever I can to this defense and this organization wherever my role may be.”

Griffin explained that when he came into the league, the Seahawks coaches didn't spend much time on developing him because they had already perfected the secondary's "Legion of Boom." However, Griffin said one of the historic defense's best members mentored him and that's why he pays it forward.

"Richard Sherman was one of the guys who took me under his wing and gave me everything he could and I’m just trying to be a vet and do the same [for the Texans]," Griffin said. "Just give it all back to the young guys who may need it."