The Seattle Seahawks lost a tough one to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, and while the Seahawks’ offense was certainly a much bigger problem than their defense in the 17-13 loss, we can’t ignore the issues on the latter side of the ball, either.
More specifically, Seattle’s secondary, which looks so incredible on paper, may suddenly have a weak link. Or at least a weakening one.
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That would be cornerback Riq Woolen, the fourth-year defender who got off to a tremendous start to his NFL career, making the Pro Bowl during his rookie campaign before steadily declining the past couple of seasons.
Woolen became eligible for a contract extension after 2024, but the Seahawks chose not to provide him with one, putting him on the path to free agency next March. Originally, the former fifth-round pick looked like a sure-fire bet to be a central figure of Seattle’s future. But now? He looks anything but the sort.
Woolen surrendered multiple big plays during the Seahawks’ loss to the 49ers, which included Brock Purdy’s game-winning touchdown pass. He looked completely out of sorts at times throughout the contest, and it has reached a point where head coach Mike Macdonald has hinted at Josh Jobe potentially taking time away from Woolen, saying that he is “competing for more snaps,” via Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune.
Even in an exploding cornerback market, it seems hard to imagine Woolen landing a major contract with the way he has been playing. After racking up 63 tackles, six interceptions and 16 passes defended in Year 1, Woolen logged overall Pro Football Focus grades of 67.1 and 67.9 in 2023 and 2024. Respectable? Sure. Elite or worthy of big money? Absolutely not.
Oh, and Woolen’s grade against San Francisco? A paltry 37.4, which included a 34.9 coverage grade.
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We know Devon Witherspoon is a stud, and safeties Julian Love and Coby Bryant are impressive. Rookie Nick Emmanwori — who suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 1 — looks like a potential stud, as well. But Woolen has gone from becoming a potential part of Legion of Boom 2.0 to being left out in the cold.
There is still 16 games left for Woolen to turn things around before he hits the open market. He is also just 26 years old. But there is very little doubt that what we have been seeing from the Texas-San Antonio product is not encouraging, and it could cost him big time once he reaches the negotiating table, whether that’s with the Seahawks or any other NFL team.
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