Riq Woolen didn't quite have the career that many Seattle Seahawks fans wished he had had. The 2022 fifth-round draft pick was seemingly a steal as a rookie when he led the NFL in interceptions. His mercurial attitude became a bit of a problem, however.
While not completely disparaging the cornerback, who left in free agency this offseason and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, former Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck might have succinctly said what most 12s were thinking when Hasselbeck discussed Woolen on the Wyman & Bob show on Seattle Sports 710 AM on Monday.
The former Pro Bowler said, "I think with Riq Woolen, I never really thought he was going to be back. I just never really felt like it was the right fit...I just think that there’s something about the identity and DNA of what your team is all about, whether that’s coachability, what it’s like in the locker room, or what it is. And it’s not like I’m not trying to throw shade at him at all, but sometimes it’s just not the perfect fit, whether it’s grit or whatever it is."
Former Seattle Seahawks quarterback speaks the truth about Riq Woolen
Hasselbeck doesn't have to say out loud what he heavily implied. Seahawks fans could see it through Woolen's play. He would be great for three quarters and then awful for a couple of drives. Even more, he could be fantastic overall, and then have two straight plays where he was awful.
That happened in the NFC Championship game against the Los Angeles Rams. Woolen was called for taunting, which was a fairly questionable call, and on the next play, he gave up a long touchdown pass. His focus was lacking at times, and it often cost his team.
The cornerback was also inconsistent, though trending toward the wrong side of efficiency, in playing against the run. He could tackle well when he wanted to, but he often failed to set a hard edge against the run. One reason he saw fewer snaps in the second half of last season was that fellow cornerback Josh Jobe was more willing to play the run stoutly.
As for being an issue in the locker room or failing to have the approach coaches would want, fans might never truly know the answer if Woolen was or wasn't, respectively, but he was suspended for the first drive of the game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16 of the 2024 season.
How much grit Woolen has, and how much grit he has, will certainly be tested in 2026 when he plays for the Eagles. Philadelphia fans are far less vocally forgiving than Seattle Seahawks fans are. If Woolen felt pressure to perform well by 12s, he might not be mentally prepared for Philly.
But that's an issue for Eagles fans. For the Seahawks, the team was content with moving on from Riq Woolen. The hope is that if his replacement is found in the 2026 NFL draft, that player will fit better with Seattle's culture than Woolen appeared to do.
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