A return to the Seattle Seahawks hasn't played out the way Shaquill Griffin might have hoped. The nine-year veteran's NFL journey led back to Seattle after four years away. After spending 2017-20 with the Seahawks,
Griffin locked onto rosters with the Jacksonville Jaguars for two seasons, a split season with the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers, and then last year with the Minnesota Vikings.
Griffin was one of Seattle's more serviceable defensive players during former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll's last few years leading up to his departure from the organization. Griffin entered the fold after the Legion of Boom era had seen its best days and played in 57 games at starting cornerback before leaving.
This season, Griffin returned to his original team after a solid 17-game season with the Vikings, likely hoping he would find a spot on the 53-man roster. Unfortunately, Griffin hasn't landed a full-time spot yet, and, more unfortunately, it's likely he won't get that opportunity in the future.
Shaquill Griffin remains too far back on Seahawks' CB depth chart to make any real impact
If you thought Griffin's current status with the Seahawks has played out tumultuously, then you haven't seen his sporadic offseason activity. The NFL offseason signings and releases can read like a roller coaster, all hopped up on an extreme sugar high for any team — this was Griffin's experience all summer long.
After signing in Seattle on July 2nd, Griffin was eventually released August 27th later in the summer. From there, Griffin's path read like this: re-signed to the practice squad a day later on August 28th, elevated from the practice squad on September 6th, sent back down to the practice squad on September 8th, and then signed again from the practice squad on September 11th.
There's more — on September 17th, Griffin was released by the Seahawks, then re-signed to their practice squad and was elevated from there again on October 11th, reverted back to the practice squad October 13th, elevated October 20th, and then reverted once more on October 21st.
Once the regular season began, Griffin started with the Seahawks on their practice squad. Since then, he has played in two regular-season games against the Jaguars and Steelers. The absence of some of Seattle's regular defensive starters played a role in Griffin's return to the regular roster, but his run will likely come to an end soon.
With Riq Woolen's return (who could be gone by the trade deadline) and Devon Witherspoon's eventual return sooner rather than later, there may not be room for Griffin, and if there is, it won't be as a starter.
Once a productive CB with nine career interceptions, Griffin isn't finding his return to his first NFL team to be any easy path. However, if you look at his last season with Minnesota (which included 2 INTs), there are clear signs that Griffin can still be productive. It may not be with the Seahawks in the future, though.
Perhaps Carroll could use another one of his former 'Hawks players down in Las Vegas — Tyler Lockett did just sign there this past week. Maybe Griffin could find a new home there, also. Nevertheless, Griffin's Seahawks reunion doesn't have the makings of a long-lasting relationship.