Football fans can turn on a player quickly. Just two seasons ago, Riq Woolen (then known as Tariq) was a fifth-round gem who turned into a Pro Bowler and tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with six. He might have been the second coming of former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman. Except he wasn't.
Woolen got injured in training camp last season and was never the same kind of quality in his second season as he was when he was a rookie. He wasn't as physical when playing the run, nor was he as good in coverage. The hope was that this season, Woolen would bounce back to his 2022 level, and at the beginning of the season, he appeared to be doing so. That was a lie.
Still, he is going to remain a starter for Seattle as will nickelback Devon Witherspoon. Spoon has not been quite as productive as head coach Mike Macdonald might have hoped this year, but he is still a disruptor who should be even better in future seasons. Seattle needs to find a long-term starter on the outside opposite Woolen, however.
Seahawks projected to take cornerback Benjamin Morrison in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft
Bleacher Report's scouting department believes it has the answer for the Seahawks. According to the site, Seattle should take Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. The corner is 6' and 190 pounds but has the traits that should make him a year-one starter in Macdonald's system.
He still needs to work on not giving up separation when transitioning off of a receiver, and he lacks elite closing speed, but his physicality helps make up for those issues. He is stout against the run, and he is not afraid to hit opposing ballcarriers with extreme prejudice. He is also a good athlete, and Macdonald should be able to move around to help disguise the scheme quite a bit.
The question is how general manager John Schneider will approach the draft. Seattle has bigger needs than cornerback such as the interior of the offensive line and, potentially, linebacker. Schneider could choose to go with the best player available and that might mean drafting Morrison. He would not be a bad pick, but he wouldn't help Seattle's most glaring weakness.
Plus, even adding Morrison does not mean the Seahawks suddenly have an elite cornerback group. Woolen has to be better, and maybe his ceiling was how well he did in 2022. He has given up six touchdown passes this year and had just two interceptions. Except for a good game against the New York Jets in Week 13, Woolen has allowed receptions on 17 of his last 22 targets for 213 yards. An average reception of 12.5 yards a catch.