The early portion of the 2025 season has been thrilling for Seattle Seahawks fans. Sam Darnold is playing the best football of his career, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is solidifying himself as an elite receiver, and Mike Macdonald's defense is proving exactly why the head coach was hired.
There's still one major issue, though. The second cornerback spot has been a major weakness all year. Riq Woolen has been inconsistent at best, and the depth behind him can't be relied on. If the Seahawks are going to take the leap from surprising playoff contenders to conference heavyweights, they need to improve that spot.
Luckily, one option in the 2026 NFL Draft is staring them right in the face. LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane has quickly risen to the top of draft boards this season, and he could be the perfect answer to Seattle's biggest remaining problem.
Mansoor Delane is Seahawks' perfect Riq Woolen replacement
The Seahawks just happen to have a pressing need at one of the most stacked positions in the upcoming draft class. This group is loaded with talent at cornerback, with a variety of body types and playing styles on the board. While he might not be the top prospect at the position, Delane could be the best fit in Macdonald's defense.
The LSU product thrives in zone coverage schemes, using his instincts and quickness to break on routes before the quarterback even throws the ball. After transferring from Virginia Tech in the offseason, he's quickly become one of the most dominant defensive backs in the country.
So far this season, Delane has allowed just 30% of passes thrown his way to be caught, per PFF. That's the best mark in all of college football among cornerbacks with at least 150 coverage snaps. He's already logged four deflections and one interception this year. He's shutting down his side of the field, reminiscent of Richard Sherman in his prime.
While the young cornerback certainly isn't the level of player Sherman was, he could help bring the Seahawks' defense to similar levels of glory. Woolen, after a promising rookie year, has proven that he's not the reliable defender this team needs on the outside.
Sooner or later, he will likely need to be replaced. Without any clear weakness, this unit could become one of the most dangerous defenses in the NFL. Drafting Delane might just be Seattle's best route to making that happen.