Just a couple of months ago, it looked likeSeattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen wasn't even going to be on the roster at this point. He was a prime trade candidate, but given his sloppy performances, it wasn't much of a surprise to see that there were no takers.
Woolen, whose rookie contract is about to run out, drew criticism for his erratic tackling and apparent regression from his impressive rookie campaign. He even lost his starting spot after a shaky first start of the season.
That's why it was so refreshing to watch him turn back the clock and dominate against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round. Notably, those who have been paying attention lately will realize that it wasn't a fluke.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen is peaking at the right time of the season
Woolen outsnapped Josh Jobe in the win over the Niners, playing 73.3 percent of the team's defensive snaps. He logged two pass breakups, gave up just one catch on three targets for 19 yards, and Brock Purdy had a passer rating of 56.3 when targeting him. The defense as a whole had one of its best games of the year, but Woolen's efforts cannot go unnoticed.
The four-year pro kicked off the season on a terrible note. That same Niners team torched him for three completions on four targets and one touchdown, with Purdy logging a 156.3 passer rating. He was also called for two penalties. All in all, he gave up a whopping 208 receiving yards in the first five games of the year, and that number has dropped to 119 yards in the following 12 games.
Of course, some may argue that the better numbers have to do with his diminished playing time, but that's not accurate. Throughout the season, he's given up just 39 receptions on 72 targets (54.2 percent). He allowed a passer rating of 75.5 and gave up a career-best 8.9 yards per completion. Granted, his 12.8 percent missed tackle rate is far from elite, but it's not the worst in his career.
Woolen's career started with a bang. He was tied for the league lead in interceptions (6) and was selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, and looked like a massive steal as a fifth-round selection. He may not be able to live up to the hype, but he's clearly trending back in the right direction.