Shaq

Griffin

After starting 2023 with the Texans, Griffin was waived and claimed by the Panthers to finish out the season. He totaled five passes defended and an interception between the two teams. Prior to that, Griffin spent four seasons with the Seahawks, including one Pro Bowl year, and two with the Jaguars. The 28-year-old now joins a Vikings secondary headed by Byron Murphy and company.

Griffin goes from a team in the midst of a playoff hunt to a team that’s just trying to finish out the season. The veteran corner joins a struggling Panthers secondary that should provide him some snaps as he looks to show he still has something left to offer a contender next season. Griffin, 28, signed a one-year contract with the Texans earlier this offseason but was let go by the team earlier this week. Currently graded as the 78th-best coverage corner per PFF, Griffin probably won’t do much to improve the Panthers’ defense over the final six weeks of the season.

The Texans signed Griffin to a one year, $4.5 million contract this offseason and penciled him in to start opposite Derek Stingley Jr. Now, 12 games into the season, the Texans have decided to part ways with the 28-year-old. On the season, Griffin has 29 tackles, one interception, and 27 receptions allowed. Pro Football Focus graded him as the 78th-best corner in terms of coverage grade. The team signed Desmond King II to take Griffin’s place on the roster.

Griffin played the previous two seasons in Jacksonville but was a cap casualty this offseason, a move that saved the team over $13 million against the cap. The veteran corner lasted all of five days on the open market before joining the Texans on the one-year deal. Griffin will likely work in opposite Derek Stingley, Jr in what amounts to a prove-your-health deal after missing a total of 13 games for the Jaguars with a back injury in 2022.

Griffin played two seasons in Jacksonville, recording zero interceptions in 19 starts. Releasing Griffin, 27, will save the team $13.1 million in salary cap space. Jacksonville remains about $8 million over the cap, and will be forced to make more moves to get under the cap by next week. Griffin, meanwhile, should receive some interest as a free agent.

The move is essentially a no-brainer for the Jaguars, as releasing Griffin will save $13.1 million in cap space. Griffin missed the back half of the season with a back injury, playing only five games. Griffin played well in 2021 and is turning 28 in July. He’ll probably be able to secure a multi-year contract if teams are confident in his health for 2023.

Griffin was limited to five games before landing on season-ending IR in Week 6. Getting cleared in February would put Griffin on track for OTAs and a full offseason. Entering the final season of a three-year, $40 million contract, Griffin will return at a $17 million cap hit in 2023.

Griffin missed last week’s game against the Giants but had been an every-down cover man for the Jaguars this season. He’s graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 63 cover corner out of 120 qualifiers through seven weeks. Griffin has yet to intercept a pass for the Jaguars since signing with the team prior to last season.

Griffin has played on every defensive snap for the Jags this year, so his loss is a significant one for the defense. He is currently dealing with a hip injury. Tre Herndon, who typically plays on special teams, will get more run in this game.

Matt Ryan is quietly in a good spot with Griffin out due to a concussion this week. Griffin has five pass defenses and a forced fumble on the year. The Jaguars are 29th in yards per pass attempt allowed (7.6) and that’s with Griffin healthy. Ryan has some juice as a QB2 streaming option this week.