Could the Minnesota Vikings be interested in adding the young linebacker this year after his impressive showing at the NFL Scouting Combine?
If people were unaware of how talented Shaquem Griffin was before this past weekend, they now have no excuse to ignore his remarkable abilities.
The former UCF linebacker put on a show for scouts on Sunday at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine. At 6-foot-1, 227 pounds, Griffin ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.38 seconds. His time is the fastest by any defender weighing at least 225 pounds since 2006.
My god, UCF LB Shaquem Griffin (@Shaquemgriffin) posts a 4.38 40-yard dash. Unreal. Fastest time EVER for a LB #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/D7UjAtNBCy
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) March 4, 2018
On Saturday, the young linebacker showed how strong he is when he put up 20 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. In comparison, Von Miller finished with 21 reps in 2011 and Khalil Mack put up 23 reps in 2014 during each of their scouting combine workouts.
Oh, and Griffin also did this with just one hand (he used a prosthetic aid during the bench press).
UCF LB Shaquem Griffin puts up 20 reps on the bench press using a prosthetic on his left arm. pic.twitter.com/jSnyE9x2hL
— NFL Access (@NFL_Access) March 3, 2018
The former UCF linebacker was born with a condition that prevented the fingers on his left hand from fully developing. He later had his entire left hand amputated when he was just 4-years-old.
Some people believe that Griffin having only having one hand is a disadvantage for him. But he’s proven time and time again that he can hold his own out on the football field with some of the best players in the country.
Beyond his scouting combine workout, Griffin was an excellent linebacker during his time at UCF.
For the past two seasons, he was named to the All-AAC First-Team defense. Back during his first year as a starter in 2016, all Griffin did was get selected as the AAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Since becoming a starter in 2016, the young linebacker racked up 166 total tackles (33.5 for a loss), 18.5 sacks, 10 pass deflections, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions.
Given that their head coach has a background in defense, is Griffin someone Mike Zimmer and the Minnesota Vikings would be interested in drafting this spring?
Minnesota Vikings
Since he is a bit undersized right now to be a three-down linebacker, Griffin is probably going to be asked to learn how to play safety as well wherever he ends up in the NFL this year.
The Vikings don’t have a glaring need for a starting safety at this point in time, but the depth of their defensive backfield is definitely in need of some improving this offseason.
A future tandem of Griffin and Harrison Smith on defense is something that would likely make Zimmer uncontrollably salivate. If Minnesota is able to draft the former UCF linebacker, the team knows their head coach has the ability to bring out the absolute best in him.
Where Griffin will be selected in this year’s draft is the big question.
After his scouting combine performance, some now believe he will be a fourth-round pick at the very least. With no selection in the fourth round right now, the Vikings would have to likely have to use a pick in an earlier round to take Griffin off the board.
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If the talented defender is still available when Minnesota goes on the clock in the third round this year, do the Vikings take a chance on him?