It’s been a selective offseason in free agency for the Detroit Lions. One of the two (so far) outside free agents signed by GM Brad Holmes is tight end Garrett Griffin, formerly of the New Orleans Saints.
The Lions signed Griffin to compete to be the primary blocking tight end. That’s been his primary role in his first five NFL years, all spent with the Saints.
What are the Lions getting in Griffin?
Griffin has played in 20 games since joining the Saints as an undrafted free agent from Air Force back in the 2017 season. He’s coming off his most extensive usage in the 2021 campaign, where he played 235 offensive snaps and started six games.
Griffin was used by the Saints almost exclusively as an inline blocking tight end. He does have decent hands, however; the 28-year-old caught all four passes thrown his way, netting 39 yards. All were of the dump-off and short-range variety.
Guys with that meager of production don’t last in the NFL for five years unless they can block. That’s where Griffin earns his money and why he held appeal for Detroit. He’s an adept lead blocker in the run game, good at engaging targets at the second level and creating a seal for the RB to read.
In my limited film study (4 games from 2021), I liked Griffin as a run blocker. He’s smart and quick, and he sustains the block well after initial contact. Griffin isn’t nearly as good as a pass protector, unfortunately. He overcommits on the first move and doesn’t have the athleticism to recover if he doesn’t win right away.
He does have some special teams experience and can also work out of the backfield as an H-back type of tight end. His route running consists of nothing more than safety valve work.
It’s a low-cost signing for Detroit that adds competition to a tight end room that is wide open outside of Pro Bowler T.J. Hockenson. Signing Griffin doesn’t eliminate any potential for the Lions to select a tight end in the later portion of the 2022 NFL draft. He figures to compete with Jared Pinkney, Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra and Matt Sokol for depth at TE.