New Vikings CB Has Been Turning Heads Early
One of the big questions for the Minnesota Vikings this summer will be the cornerback room.
Currently, Minnesota employs 10 cornerbacks on their roster, but it remains rather unclear how the depth chart will shake out when training camp ends in August. For now, though, one of the newest Vikings CBs has been turning heads throughout OTAs.
That cornerback is free agent acquisition Shaquill Griffin, who spent the majority of the 2023 season with the Houston Texans before being released in November and signing with the Carolina Panthers.
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Alec Lewis of The Athletic recently wrote about Griffin’s impressive start to his stint as a Viking, and here is what the insider had to say:
“Jefferson jawed with Griffin after an incompletion Thursday in a seven-on-seven rep. Griffin seemed amused by the conversation. He’ll likely pay for the back and forth in training camp, but his confidence is unmistakable.”
Griffin brings a bit of a veteran swagger to a Vikings secondary that is primarily filled with young players right now. The former third-round pick has seen plenty of football since he entered the NFL back in 2017, but being only 28 years old, Minnesota is hoping he can put together a productive season for them this season.
Lewis also included a quote from do-it-all safety Josh Metellus, who spoke on Griffin’s potential impact for the Vikings in 2024.
“It almost gives me that same feeling as Patrick Peterson when he came into the building,” Metellus said. “He’s a guy who has seen a lot of football, and he’s giving us tidbits, especially the young guys in the corner room.”
Outside of Griffin, the only other true veteran in the cornerback room is Byron Murphy, who is entering his sixth NFL season. Otherwise, Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth are both entering their third NFL seasons and are the only players amongst the group with multiple years in the NFL under their belts.
Ultimately, it is very early in the process (remember, last summer Joejuan Williams was an early starting favorite before being cut after training camp), and starting decisions are not made in June. However, Griffin’s impact seems to be very positive so far.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.