Riq Woolen was seemingly a fifth-round diamond for the Seattle Seahawks in the 2022 draft. He led the NFL in interceptions with six as a rookie, but in the three years since, he was a bit of a mess. With him leaving in free agency, the team is looking for his replacement, and that could come in the 2026 draft.
One option could be Arizona's Treydan Stukes, who Seattle is visiting this week. The problem with Stukes has little to do with similarities between him and Woolen. Quite the opposite.
What is known about Stukes is that he is a quality leader among his teammates and was a captain for the Wildcats. He isn't going to be a concern in the locker room, whereas Woolen was mercurial both on and off the field.
Seattle Seahawks are visiting with defensive back Treydan Stukes ahead of the 2026 NFL draft
He could be great for three and a half quarters and then awful for two crucial plays. He also broke a team rule in 2024 and was suspended for a drive by head coach Mike Macdonald in Week 14. That is very unlikely to ever be Stukes.
Still, Woolen's speed allowed him to be elite in coverage at times. He was also 6'4" and long-armed, so what he couldn't make up for with his elite speed, he could with his other physical traits.
Stukes doesn't lack good speed (he ran a 4.33 40-yard dash, after all), but he is three inches shorter than Woolen. The Arizona product is also just two years younger than Woolen, and will be 25 in Week 1 of the 2026 season. Still young, of course, but older than most entering the draft.
He also tore his ACL in 2024, so one might worry that he could suffer the same kind of injury again in the NFL. His ceiling is less than Woolen's because of what concerns he brings, but his floor is much higher than the outgoing Seahawks cornerback.
Stukes can create turnovers as he had four interceptions last season, and his character is not an issue. He would be a fantastic fit for the Seahawks. Can he be a pure outside corner, however?
Maybe the Seattle Seahawks and general manager John Schneider see Treydan Stukes taking on a different role in the league. He isn't the quickest or bendiest of players, so he might become a safety in the NFL. Perhaps, instead of a potential replacement for Riq Woolen, Seattle would take Stukes in round two or after to replace Coby Bryant, who signed with the Chicago Bears.