Seattle Seahawks’ cornerback Shaquill Griffin would “love” to remain in Seattle, but he’s prepared to step into the free agent market.
Griffin expressed plenty of love for the Seahawks, but he knows that his contract demands may not mesh with what the Seahawks could offer. Griffin also figures to receive competing offers from other teams when the league’s free agency period officially begins March 17.
“I would love to be back in Seattle, but I know there’s a business aspect behind it,” Griffin said Wednesday morning on “Good Morning Football” show on the NFL Network. “But that organization knows I love it over there — the fans and coaches know how much I love Seattle. But at the end of the day, I know it’s strictly business. I’m just trying to see what’s next.”
Griffin, a third-round selection (No. 90) by the Seahawks in the 2017 NFL draft, posted a breakout season in 2019, with a career-high 65 total tackles and 13 passes defensed, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl. Griffin registered a career-high three interceptions and 63 total tackles in 2020, but it was an up-and-down season. He allowed five touchdown passes in his first six games and he also missed four games with a concussion and hamstring injury.
Griffin, 25, finished the season on a positive note and is looking forward to testing the free agent market, a market he’s viewed as one of the top cornerbacks in the league. Griffin could land a contract at $11 million annually, according to spotrac.com.
“I’m only 25 years old, I feel like my best ball is ahead of me,” Griffin said on the “Good Morning Football” show.
That type of money might be too rich for the cash-strapped Seahawks, who aren’t expected to place the franchise tag on Griffin for 2021. The Seahawks have a bunch of young players in the secondary, and they are particularly high on D.J. Reed, who’s almost a lock to start at one cornerback. Tre Flowers, who started in five games in 2020, is under contract and the team could opt to re-sign free agent Quinton Dunbar.
-- Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold