There’s still an entire NFL season to go until teams have to begin roster building for the future again. But it’s never too early to take a peak at what could happen during the upcoming offseason, especially with high-profiled pending free agents such as Riq Woolen.
Pro Football Sports Network’s Brandon Austin picked one player for each NFL team who is a franchise tag candidate for next offseason. Austin selected Woolen for the Seattle Seahawks.
“Riq Woolen is one of the NFL’s most athletic and productive cornerbacks in football. He played in 15 games last season, recording 46 tackles, 14 pass breakups, three interceptions, and a forced fumble,” wrote Austin on July 15.
“Woolen has consistently limited opposing receivers throughout his young career. He has never allowed more than 6.3 yards per target in a season and has recorded multiple interceptions each year.
“Woolen is just 26 years old and possesses rare physical traits for the position. The projected 2026 franchise tag for cornerbacks is expected to be in the $21–22 million range. The Seattle Seahawks may tag him if they can’t get a deal done, keeping one of the best young corner duos intact.”
Woolen was a diamond in the rough for the Seahawks during the 2022 NFL Draft. Seattle selected the cornerback at No. 153 overall in the fifth round that year.
In 2022, Woolen led the NFL with six interceptions as a rookie. He also had 16 pass defenses and three fumble recoveries with 63 combined tackles on his way to a Pro Bowl nomination.
Woolen has started 46 games for the Seahawks in three seasons. His rookie contract will expire after the 2025 campaign.
Why CB Riq Woolen is a Franchise Tag Candidate for Seahawks
Again, it’s early to be projecting franchise tag candidates. Also on the list was Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt, but this week, the Steelers and Watt agreed to a new four-year contract.
So, Watt is no longer a candidate for a franchise tag next offseason.
Woolen wouldn’t be either if the Seahawks signed him to a long-term extension before the franchise tag deadline next offseason.
The cornerback, though, is an obvious candidate for the franchise tag because the Seahawks are unlikely to allow Woolen to leave if they can help it. As Austin mentioned, Woolen is 26 years old and has been one of the team’s top cornerbacks the past three years.
According to Over the Cap, a franchise tag for a cornerback next offseason will cost about $21.76 million. The Seahawks could place that tag on Woolen to avoid him reaching free agency.
Then, Seattle would have the rest of the offseason to negotiate a long-term deal.
Projecting Woolen’s Next Contract
How Woolen performs this season will greatly impact his next contract. But if he continues on his current trajectory, the Seahawks cornerback should be highly compensated on his next deal.
Spotrac projected Woolen to be worth about $63.9 million on a four-year contract this offseason. That would give the cornerback an average annual salary just under $16 million.
It will be interesting to see if that will be a high enough contract offer. The guaranteed money in the contract will be more important, but an average annual salary under $16 million would rank Woolen outside the top 20 cornerbacks in average salary.
If that’s the offer after the Seahawks place Woolen on the franchise tag, the cornerback could choose to play out the tag and try to reach the open market in 2027.
There’s a long way to go, though, before that potentially happens. Should Seattle sign Woolen to an extension before March, the team wouldn’t even have to use the franchise tag.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Seahawks Pro Bowler Named Potential 2026 Franchise Tag Candidate appeared first on Heavy Sports.