3 potential trade partners for Jacksonville Jaguars CB Shaquill Griffin
![Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Shaquill Griffin #26 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Cleveland Browns defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-13. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]Jacksonville Jaguars 2022 Cleveland Browns First Home Pre Season Scrimmage Second Scrimmage Preseason](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Fblackandteal-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F18867015-850x560-f8850a40de948a7127f88bf435b6254057aeb8fd17a2d72f6fbf97230946980f.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Shaquill Griffin #26 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Cleveland Browns defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-13. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]Jacksonville Jaguars 2022 Cleveland Browns First Home Pre Season Scrimmage Second Scrimmage Preseason")
Cornerback Shaquill Griffin joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 and quickly became one of their most important players on defense. However, Griffin’s second year with the Jags didn’t go the way he probably expected. He suffered a back injury in training camp that affected his on-field performance and was placed on the Injury Reserve five games into the season.
Griffin still has one year left on the three-year deal worth $40.5 million he signed with the Jags and he’s set to count $17 million against the cap next season. Although he said he would like to return to Jacskonville in 2023, trading/releasing him would free up $13.1 million in space with $4 million in dead money.
The Jaguars are no longer over the cap and currently have $16.11 million in space after re-signing a handful of players and restructuring a few contracts. However, that might not be nearly enough to accommodate wide receiver Calvin Ridley once he’s reinstated and get their 2023 rookie class signed.
For this reason, Griffin has been brought up as a potential trade candidate on several occasions. Just recently, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that the Jaguars plan to either release or trade him.
The #Jaguars are expected to release or attempt to trade CB Shaquill Griffin in the coming days, per sources. A release would save $13.1 million in cap space.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 3, 2023
Still just 27 and a former Pro Bowler, Griffin figures to be a key player in the cornerback market.
Nobody would call Griffin a shutdown corner but he’s proven to be a solid starter when healthy. He made the Pro Bowl in 2019 and posted a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 72.0 in 2021. If healthy the former UCF Knight could help several clubs.
Make no mistake though, the Jaguars won’t get a ransom of picks for Griffin. At most, they’ll be offered a late-round selection. Then again, that’s better than letting him walk and not getting anything in return. And if they want to avoid the risk of missing out on Griffin, these three teams should get in touch with the Jags.