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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla .– The Miami Dolphins sign a one-year contract with former Seattle Seahawks linebacker Shaquem Griffin after a successful team visit, sources have told ESPN.
Griffin had his left hand amputated at the age of 4 due to amniotic band syndrome, a congenital condition that often made him painful and with limited function. Now he’s joining the Dolphins just before training camp in hopes of making the list.
Signing does not guarantee Griffin will be on the Dolphins’ final roster in 2021, but it does give him the opportunity to use his rushing ability and special teams acumen to compete for a depth role. Griffin was not introduced by the Seahawks as a restricted free agent last spring, so he became an unrestricted free agent. After visiting several teams this offseason, he found a home in Miami.
Griffin became the first one-handed player to be drafted into the modern era of the NFL when the Seahawks picked him in the fifth round in 2018, reuniting him with his twin brother, Shaquill Griffin.
It turned out to be more than just a draft day wellness story. He was part of the Seahawks’ roster out of training camp in 2018 and 19 and has been among their top special teams contributors every season. He also showed flashes in late 2019 as a passer when the Seahawks began using him outboard in subsets, reprising the role he excelled in during his college career at the UCF.
Griffin put pressure on Jared Goff which led to a stray pitch and Quandre Diggs’ six-pick in a loss to the Rams in December 2019. He got his first career sacking in the playoff loss Seattle playoffs at Green Bay the following month. He started last season on the Seattle practice squad before appearing in 14 games with 1 sack, 9 tackles and 3 QB hits.
If he’s part of the Dolphins roster, Griffin might have more of an opportunity to rush the passer in various ways into coach Brian Flores’ heavy multiple blitz schedule rather than right next to him as he has. done frequently in Seattle. He would also be much closer to his brother, who signed a three-year, $ 40 million contract with the Jaguars this offseason.
In three seasons with Seattle, Griffin appeared in 46 regular season games, registering 1 sack, 25 tackles and 6 QB hits. His only departure came during his NFL debut in 2018.
NFL Network was the first to report the signing. The Dolphins players are due to report to training camp on Tuesday.
ESPN’s Brady Henderson contributed to this story.
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