The producers postponed production on the show so that Serinda Swan became available after she lost her role on the cancelled A&E show Breakout Kings (2011).
Creator Jeff Eastin originally had a Patrick Swayze type character in mind for the role of Briggs, but Daniel Sunjata impressed him so much he changed his mind.
Jeff Eastin originally wrote Graceland before his other show White Collar (2009) but had to wait until he felt USA Network was 'ready' for the darker tone.