20 Most Interesting Seahawks: #11 Shaquill Griffin

Everybody knew the Seahawks needed a youth movement in their famed Legion of Boom secondary. After a tumultuous year of off-the-field stories involving Richard Sherman, the Seahawks had no choice but to address the future of its corner position. Enter Shaquill Griffin.

Griffin, the Seahawks third round draft choice from the University of Central Florida, fit the mold of a Seahawks corner. He stands just over six feet tall. He meets the length requirement, possessing a 32 3/8 inch arms.

What stands out more than Griffin’s size is his speed. He ran a 4.38 40 yard dash. His impressive combine left him with a SPARQ of 135.5, making him the seventh-best “pure athlete” among the talented pool of cornerbacks in the 2017 draft.

But more than athleticism and size, Seahawks corners need to master the kick step in order to play in the bump-and-run Cover 3 defense.

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Most reports from beat writers at the Seahawks OTA’s said Griffin is picking it up quickly. Fans will get to see for themselves in the preseason. The Seahawks may need Griffin to be more than a “future starter” though. He is currently battling with veterans Jeremy Lane and Neiko Thorpe to become the starter opposite of Richard Sherman.

Seattle will face Aaron Rodgers, Marcus Mariota and Andrew Luck in three of their first four games. The left corner position will be critical in these early matchups. The preseason carries more weight for Griffin than most, and it will be interesting to see how the Hawks use him.

If they give him first team reps, it could be a sign that he is truly in the competition. They also could keep their young secondary on the field together. Which could allow Griffin to grow with Mike Tyson, Delano Hill, and Tedric Thompson.

Next: 20 Most Interesting Seahawks: 12--Tyler Lockett

No matter which way the Seahawks go, they will need Griffin to contribute in some manner. Be it on special teams or as a starting corner, the development of Griffin could be a crucial step in securing a second Super Bowl victory.