ANNOUNCEMENT: Sam Darnold announce his Resignation and Departure From Minnesota Vikings today

The Vikings’ most recent free agent acquisition, veteran cornerback Shaquill Griffin, is a significant one for a few different reasons. He fills a major, obvious need as a starting-caliber corner who brings a much higher floor of performance than inconsistent third-year player Akayleb Evans.

Griffin can also play man coverage, which is valuable to the Vikings, and he can play on the outside, which should make all of the pieces in the secondary fit a bit more naturally.

Including playoffs, Griffin has 83 career starts and 67 passes defended under his belt.

After four years with the Seahawks and two with the Jaguars, he split last year with the Texans and Panthers.

Griffin, who turns 29 this summer, has earned a PFF grade above 64 in five of his seven seasons, which helps illustrate the floor he brings to Minnesota.

On a one-year, $4.55 million deal, he projects as a useful addition for the Vikings, even if his signing may cost them a comp pick next year.

What Griffin’s presence should allow the Vikings to do is play more man coverage.

Last year, they ranked dead last in their usage of man coverage at just 23.7 percent, per FTN Fantasy.

Brian Flores utilized man at much higher rates during his time as the Dolphins’ head coach, and in Griffin, he now has a starter on the outside who has plenty of experience lining up in man.

Also notable is that adding Griffin should allow the Vikings to use their top cornerback, Byron Murphy Jr., in the slot more often.

Murphy can do both, but he played primarily in the slot during his Cardinals tenure before lining up on the boundary out of necessity during most of his first season in Minnesota.