We’re almost at the end of the peak of
There is a Seahawks presence in this article, and it’s one of the top names from the 2022 draft class. Here’s Barnwell’s reasoning for why there’s a ton of pressure on cornerback Riq Woolen:
Which Woolen will show up in 2025? Will it be the guy who looked like one of the biggest steals of the 2022 draft as a rookie? He picked off a league-high six passes, finished third in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and allowed a 48.7 passer rating in coverage. Former
ADSeattle coach Pete Carroll took advantage of the fifth-rounder’s 6-foot-4 frame and length to mold him into a lockdown cornerback. The obvious comparisons were made to Richard Sherman, another oversized fifth-round pick who landed with Carroll and likely will end up in the Hall of Fame one day.
Or will it be the guy who has been confusingly underwhelming since? Woolen’s numbers in coverage are good, but coaches have seemingly been frustrated with his tackling and inconsistency. Since returning from a knee injury in 2023, he has been benched at different times in each of the past two seasons, most recently in December for undisclosed disciplinary reasons. There are too many moments such as what happened in the midseason loss to the Rams, when he got caught looking into the backfield on a flood concept and wideout Demarcus Robinson ran by him for a game-winning overtime touchdown.
Cornerbacks with Woolen’s size and physical traits aren’t easy to come by — he was the only 6-4 corner to start a game last season — and big defensive backs who can play are always going to be in demand. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Woolen will be in position to make more than $20 million per year in free agency if he has an impressive season.
Woolen was also described in the FTN Fantasy Football Almanac as a corner with a “hint of boom-or-bust” in him, having recorded 11 interceptions (fifth-most in the NFL since 2022) but also given up 12 touchdowns (15th-most during that same span).
I wouldn’t characterize Woolen as “underwhelming” over the past two seasons, but I think he is a bit of a victim of his strong early success. He’s recorded 25 passes defensed since 2024 but the interceptions have come down. When he’s tested by opposing quarterbacks he usually wins.
Where the frustration lies with Woolen is consistent effort and discipline. As noted by Barnwell, Woolen has twice been briefly benched by different coaches. Pete Carroll gave Woolen the hook after a brutal tackling display against the San Francisco 49ers, but cited a shoulder problem as a contributing factor. Last year, Mike Macdonald punished Woolen for the opening series against the Minnesota Vikings for a team rules violation, which coincidentally came off the back of a rough outing against the Green Bay Packers. Woolen was also visibly called out by Julian Love on a 3rd and 26 checkdown that somehow turned into 4th and 2 for the New York Jets late in the game.
This is a contract year for Woolen at a time when the likes of Derek Stingley Jr, Sauce Gardner, and Jaycee Horn have received huge contract extensions. The lack of cornerback investment outside of adding veteran Shaquill Griffin should indicate no imminent threat to Riq’s starting job, but there’s definitely a significant amount of money at stake in terms of his on-field performance.
More from fieldgulls.com:
- Greg Olsen got weird about Russell Wilson and the offense
- Pre-Snap Reads 9/9: Jamal Adams talks about new scheme
- Whose house?! BILLS HOUSE!
- Matthew Stafford is going through some stuff
- Boye Mafe limited, Ken Walker does not practice for Seahawks Thursday
- Pete Carroll thinks Seahawks crowd will ‘know exactly what to do’ when Russell Wilson returns
- Field Gulls predicts the 2022 Seahawks season
