Seahawks Urged to Add Another CB Even After Shaquill Griffin Signing

The Seattle Seahawks officially added former Pro Bowler and team 2017 draft pick Shaquill Griffin on July 2. That move appeared to finalize the team’s offseason depth chart at cornerback.

But CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards still argued this week the team could use another addition at cornerback.

“It is easy to envision a scenario in which Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling do not provide the production that Seattle will require alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba,” Edwards wrote on Friday. “The Seahawks did add two Day 3 pass catchers as well.

“Cornerback has questions as well. Devon Witherspoon has been fantastic and the same has been true of Riq Woolen at times in his career. The other starting spot is expected to be a competition between Josh Jobe and Nehemiah Pritchett.”

Edwards didn’t mention Griffin in his analysis of Seattle’s cornerback room.

Do the Seahawks Need Another Cornerback?

Including Griffin, the Seahawks are set to have 10 cornerbacks on the offseason roster to begin training camp.

From a sheer numbers perspective, Seattle could use another cornerback. A lot of NFL teams have 11 cornerbacks on their offseason rosters.

But the Seahawks are returning three of their top four cornerbacks from a 2024 snaps perspective — Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe. With the Minnesota Vikings last season, Griffin played 572 defensive snaps.

Those four cornerbacks averaged about 752 defensive snaps during the 2024 season.

Behind those four, the Seahawks have cornerbacks Nehemiah Pritchett, Shemar Jean-Charles, Zy Alexander Isas Waxter, Damarion Williams and Tyler Hall on their offseason roster.

For that reason, SI on Seahawks’ Randy Gurzi was surprised to see Edwards name cornerback the top remaining need for the Seahawks this summer.

“Seattle has two solid starters in Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen. They also re-signed Shaq Griffin, and there are expectations that Nick Emmanwori will spend time in the slot,” wrote Gurzi.

“That’s a lot of talent in the secondary, making this a head-scratching selection.”

Nick Emmanwori is officially listed as a safety on the Seahawks offseason roster. But Gurzi rightfully mentioned the possibility of him lining up at slot cornerback.

That’s probably a big part of the reason why Seattle has 10 cornerbacks on the offseason roster instead of 11.

What Seahawks Will Get With Shaquill Griffin Return

Rumors linked Seattle to its former cornerback during June. The rumors came to fruition with the return of Griffin.

The Seahawks drafted Griffin at No. 90 overall in the third round of the 2017 draft. He started 11 games as a rookie and became a regular starter over the next few years. In 2019, Griffin made the Pro Bowl.

After his rookie contract expired, Griffin signed a three-year, $44.5 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Griffin completed two years of the contract before his release.

The veteran then split the 2023 campaign with the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers before playing for the Vikings last season.

In 2024, he had 41 combined tackles, six pass defenses and two interceptions. Griffin has nine interceptions in 106 NFL games during his career.

Griffin, who will turn 30 years old on July 20, isn’t the same player he was, but the Seahawks appear to expect quality depth from the veteran. After his addition, it’s unlikely the team still sees cornerback as a remaining need.