Rumors that the Seattle Seahawks could move cornerback Riq Woolen before the NFL trade deadline have swirl over the past several weeks. But Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox still had a somewhat strange final prediction for the Seahawks with Woolen.
Knox projected the Seahawks to trade Woolen to another 5-2 team in the NFC — the Detroit Lions.
“Cornerback is another premium position that is likely to command a lot of attention at the trade deadline. According to Russini, the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams are all making calls with a cornerback in mind,” wrote Knox.
“Though the 5-2 Seattle Seahawks certainly don’t fit the mold of a typical deadline seller, they could have a starting-caliber corner up for grabs. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Seahawks are actively shopping Riq Woolen.”
Woolen made the Pro Bowl for the Seahawks as a rookie, but that was three years ago in 2022. He was tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions during that campaign.
This season, Woolen has started the six contests in which he has appeared. In those contests, he has 19 combined tackles and three pass defenses.
Seahawks Predicted to Trade CB Riq Woolen to Lions
As Knox suggested, it’s odd the Seahawks are even considering moving on from Woolen. NFL contenders don’t typically give up depth, especially at positions where they’ve had injuries.
The Seahawks have had plenty of injuries in the secondary this season. Seattle should be healthier coming out of its bye week this Sunday, but those injuries have lingered in the Seahawks defensive backfield this fall.
That could make Woolen an important piece to keep.
Even if the Seahawks do trade Woolen, though, it would make the most sense to not trade him to competition.
While moving Woolen to the Lions isn’t an inter-division trade, the two teams could be battling for NFC wild card positioning at the end of the year. Both the Seahawks and Lions could also win their divisions, which would put the two teams in competition for seeding.
If they meet in the NFC divisional round, the higher seed will host the contest.
But should the Seahawks really want to trade Woolen, they might not have that many options. A non-contender isn’t going to trade for Woolen because those teams are obviously more interested in future assets.
If the Seahawks move Woolen, it’s highly likely to be to a team going to the playoffs. But it would be best for Seattle if that team is in the AFC.
Why the Seahawks Could Trade Woolen
The fourth-year cornerback has been at the forefront of trade rumors since NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on September 28 that teams are “monitoring” Woolen’s situation with the Seahawks.
“Woolen’s playing time has diminished, and in a contract year, teams believe he could be available,” posted Rapoport on X.
Woolen’s rookie contract will expire at the end of 2025. The Seahawks are unlikely to re-sign him because of how he’s fit in Mike Macdonald’s defense.
That makes him a rental player for any team interested in adding a cornerback.
Woolen’s playing time, though, hasn’t really diminished with the Seahawks. Woolen has played 92% of Seattle’s defensive snaps in the six games where he’s dressed. That’s a higher percentage than either of the past two seasons.
The Lions could be interested in cornerback additions because of all the injuries they’ve had in the secondary. Both the Seahawks and Lions own 5-2 records.
In 54 career games with the Seahawks, Woolen has posted 181 combined tackles with 11 interceptions. He’s also registered 44 pass defenses and five fumble recoveries.
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