The Minnesota Vikings have prioritized bolstering their defense during the 2024 NFL free agency period. Following the acquisition of numerous linebackers, they have now secured former Pro Bowl Houston Texans cornerback Shaq Griffin.
According to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, Griffin and the Vikings have agreed to a one-year contract worth potentially up to $6 million. Griffin’s addition aims to strengthen the Vikings’ secondary, leveraging his experience gained from playing with four different NFL teams.
Griffin began his professional journey with the Seattle Seahawks, who drafted him in the third round of the 2017 Draft. He showcased promise in his rookie season, tallying 59 total tackles, one sack, and one interception in 15 games.
Remaining with the Seahawks for three more seasons, Griffin experienced career highs in 2019-20 and 2020-21. His standout performance in the 2019-20 season, with 65 tackles in 14 games, earned him his first Pro Bowl selection.
The following season, Griffin continued to excel, recording 63 tackles and a career-best three interceptions. He then transitioned to the Jacksonville Jaguars for two seasons, albeit with limited playing time in his second year. Subsequently, he played for the Houston Texans in 2023 before joining the Carolina Panthers.
In the 2023-24 season, Griffin maintained respectable production with 39 tackles and an interception across his tenures with the Texans and Panthers. Now, he joins the Vikings’ reinforced defense.
Minnesota’s offseason strategy emphasizes defensive improvement, evident in their signings of linebackers Jonathan Greenard, Blake Cashman, and Andrew Van Ginkel. ClutchPoints’ Steve Silverman grades each acquisition as B+ or better, indicating a strengthened Vikings defense. With Shaq Griffin in the lineup, the Vikings aim to fortify their defense for a more successful campaign in 2024.
