The Seattle Seahawks have a cornerback issue, which is made obvious by the team wanting to sign Terrion Arnold but actually signing Trevon Diggs. Neither could fix an ever-growing concern. Ironically, Riq Woolen, who left in free agency and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, could have.
Maybe Woolen had just been enticed to stay, but general manager John Schneider was also seemingly correct in not giving Woolen a lot of money to keep playing home games in the Pacific Northwest. Woolen had been an inconsistent performer with a mercurial attitude.
With the Eagles, Woolen has been a standout in training camp, playing so well that he hasn't needed to participate in the team's preseason games. This week, he received more rave reviews from Eagles beat reporter EJ Smith during a practice in which Woolen intercepted quarterback Jalen Hurts twice.
Former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen turning into a star with the Philadelphia Eagles
Smith wrote, "Riq Woolen just picked off Jalen Hurts for a second time tonight, this time a pick-6 after jumping an out route to DeVonta Smith."
As Seahawks fans know, Woolen at his best is one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. He has the length and speed to cover the best wide receivers.
The flipside is that sometimes after making a fantastic play, he has chosen to voice his pleasure overzealously at the other team and gets a needless 15-yard flag for taunting or unsportsmanlike conduct. He often follows that up by immediately allowing a big play.
That happened last season in both the NFC Championship game and the Super Bowl. It is those momentary lapses of judgment that diminish how elite Woolen can be. The hope was also that if he could clean up those few moments of illogic, he would be more consistently brilliant.
The Seattle Seahawks somewhat gave up on Riq Woolen being able to be fixed, and rightfully so. He had been disciplined before, having to sit for an opening series in a game in 2024 after breaking a team rule, but that didn't have a long-term positive effect. Instead, Woolen kept being Woolen, while also playing iffy run support.
Not so far with the Eagles, though. Philadelphia should be, and might still be, a far more difficult environment for the cornerback to play in, as Philly fans will be far more vocal with their displeasure should Woolen make a great play, get a silly penalty, and then give up a huge play than football fans in Seattle were.
Maybe the pressure for fans in Philadelphia helped Woolen stay more focused. If that happens, he can be a Pro Bowler, and that would make the Seahawks feel not great about letting the corner leave in free agency.
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