NFL Draft 2018: Why Shaquem Griffin should be drafted in early rounds

After an impressive showing at the Combine, it’s time that UCF linebacker Shaquen Griffin gets his due as one of the best linebackers in the 2018 NFL Draft.

By now, NFL fans have heard or read the story about the fifth-year senior from UCF who became an NFL-prospect with one hand. His name is Shaquem Griffin, and he’s the twin brother of Seattle Seahawks 2017 third-round pick Shaquill Griffin.

The UCF Knights linebacker was born with a birth defect that forced doctors to amputate his hand when he was four years old. Still, that didn’t stop Griffin, he battled through adverse criticism and the whispers to become a dominating presence in college football. Griffin’s triumph story will forever live on as inspirational.

As a matter of fact, Walterfootball.com suggests that it’s his story more so than his athletic prowess that will “pressure teams” to draft him.

"“NFL league office has pressured teams in the past to draft players who they thought were great stories for the league. See Michael Sam and Moritz Bohringer… that could happen again.”"

Griffin is more than just an ornamenting tale, he’s an exceptional athlete with the numbers and game film that serves as evidence. With his size, skill-set and athletic dexterity, Griffin should just get drafted on merit alone. In fact, he deserves to not only be drafted, he’s made a case that he should be taken in the first three rounds of the draft.