The first report that the Seattle Seahawks were bringing back cornerback Shaquill Griffin surfaced on June 25. Griffin’s signing in Seattle became official Wednesday.
To make room for Griffin on the roster, the Seahawks announced waiving defensive back JT Woods in a corresponding move.
“The veteran cornerback signed with the Seahawks Wednesday, giving the Seahawks an experienced player to add competition and depth to an already strong position group led by returning starters Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe,” wrote Seahawks.com’s John Boyle. “Cornerback JT Woods was waived to make room on the 90-man roster.”
Woods joined the Seahawks on a futures contract after the 2024-25 regular season on January 17. The Los Angeles Chargers drafted Woods at No. 79 overall in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Last season, Woods split his campaign with the practice squads of the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears.
Seahawks Move on From DB JT Woods
Woods didn’t get much opportunity to prove himself with the Seahawks. But with the roster full, it was a simple numbers game for Seattle’s cornerback room making space for Griffin.
Another former third-round pick, Griffin will bring more depth and experience to the Seahawks than Woods could offer. Griffin will be back in Seattle after four years away playing for other organizations.
Woods played in 10 games as a rookie for the Chargers during 2022. During Week 10 of that campaign, he started against the San Francisco 49ers.
As a rookie, Woods played 31 defensive snaps and 73 snaps on special teams. He posted three combined tackles.
In 2023, Woods received more defensive snaps but only dressed for three contests. He posted five combined tackles while receiving 60 defensive snaps and 16 special teams snaps.
Woods didn’t dress for a regular season game during the 2024 campaign.
Seahawks Bring Back Shaquill Griffin
By waiving Woods, Seattle created space for Griffin, who the team drafted at No. 90 overall during the third round in the 2017 NFL Draft.
The 29-year-old played the first four years of his career for the Seahawks from 2017-20. During 2019, he made the Pro Bowl.
In 2019, Griffin posted 65 combined tackles, including two tackles for loss and 13 pass defenses. Over four seasons with the Seahawks, Griffin had 249 combined tackles, including nine for loss, 70 pass defenses and nine interceptions in 57 games.
He left Seattle to join the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of the 2021 season. He spent two year with the Jaguars before the team waived him in March 2023.
During 2023, Griffin played for both the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers. Last year, he was with the Minnesota Vikings.
Griffin recorded 41 combined tackles, including one tackle for loss, six pass defenses and two interceptions in 17 games for the Vikings last season.
In Seattle, Griffin will join a cornerback room that returns its top three players in terms of snaps from last season — Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe.
The Seahawks also have Nehemiah Pritchett, Shemar Jean-Charles, Zy Alexander Isas Waxter, Damarion Williams and Tyler Hall as cornerbacks on their offseason roster.
NFL pundits project Williams and Hall to compete for opportunities at slot cornerback.
