Riq Woolen‘s role on a Super Bowl-winning Seahawks defense will not result in a big-ticket multiyear deal, but the free agent cornerback is receiving a notable opportunity. The Eagles are signing him, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.
It is a one-year deal worth up to $15MM for the four-year Seattle regular. Philadelphia pursued Alontae Taylor, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, but that market settled with a three-year, $60MM Tennessee deal. A lower-cost commitment will commence with Woolen, who is being given a higher-end “prove it” deal.
The Seahawks discussed Woolen at the trade deadline and preferred to retain Josh Jobe, who arrived under Mike Macdonald. Woolen was a Pete Carroll-era fifth-rounder who played better under the previous Seattle HC. The 6-foot-4 corner blazed to a 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, boosting his draft stock ahead of a six-INT rookie season — one that lost out to Sauce Gardner‘s debut for Defensive Rookie of the Year acclaim.
Woolen intercepted 12 passes on his rookie deal and broke up 53, ranking in the 93rd percentile in forced incompletions (per Pro Football Focus). Still, Macdonald used Jobe in front of Woolen during the season’s second half, when the taller CB only topped 70% usage in one of the team’s final eight regular-season games. He still allowed a passer rating of 78.5, ranking 25th among 200-plus-snap CBs in 2025.
Woolen did clear the 70% snap barrier in both Seattle NFC playoff games, notably being whistled for a costly taunting penalty before allowing a third-quarter Rams touchdown. Woolen also defensed two passes against the 49ers and Rams in the postseason. This is a bit of a disappointment for Woolen, market-wise, but the Eagles will land a talented player going into an age-27 season.
Howie Roseman was not running the Eagles when they signed ex-Legion of Boom Seahawk CB Byron Maxwell in 2015 — that was the Chip Kelly-in-charge year — but this Roseman addition will supply an interesting former Super Bowl-winning Seahawk to join first-team All-Pros Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. The Woolen addition should allow DeJean to focus on his slot post, though The Athletic’s Zach Berman envisions more safety time for the standout cover man in base sets.
Philly tried a few measures to fill its No. 2 outside cornerback post last season. Neither Adoree’ Jackson nor Kelee Ringo was a strong option opposite Mitchell, and a midseason trade for Jaire Alexander preceded the former first-rounder stepping away from football. The Eagles are retaining ex-Jets slot Michael Carter II, but it looks like he has accepted a pay cut (Jackson is unsigned for 2026). It would now surprise if Woolen were not the starter alongside Mitchell and DeJean. Sliding the Iowa alum to safety in base formations would be a way to keep all three CBs on the field more often.
The Seahawks have now lost Woolen, Coby Bryant, Boye Mafe and Kenneth Walker from their Super Bowl LX roster. Seattle did re-sign Rashid Shaheed, however. Extensions will be on tap for Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon, and the defending champions’ free agency effort will be cognizant of those upcoming megadeals.
Good deal, great CB2 and a comp pick next year.
love this signing
Now CB is not a big priority in the draft for the Eagles so can concentrate on TE, DE,OL and S.
Of course they did. Good job sitting on your hands again Brad Holmes. I hate the Eagles but give Roseman so much credit for having the balls to get things done.
Not bad. Solid upside for one year and you’re not counting on him to even be one of your top two coverage players.
Pretty damn solid
One year deals are never bad for teams.
Unless they have a pro bowl year because then they will want a fortune
In which case you let them walk and draft their replacement.
The Eagles already have two Pro Bowl corners, who they need to extend in the near future.
damn, was really hoping he would end up in GB
Eagles really have a type. Dude will fill the CJGJ role of loudmouth DB whose best days are behind him.
Agree but disagree … Fangio will make him a better player, if not, he will be somewhere else in 2027.
Not the best character(just check the taunting call in the playoffs),stupid,immature, I’m a little surprised. I guess he has talent……might be a disaster waiting to happen
CJGJ was a solid player both years as an Eagle who had 6 picks both years and made impact plays. He’s also a safety rather than a guy who was at one point a true shutdown corner in Woolen.
6-4 runs 4.26. Holy crap. I don’t know if Michael Carter can replace Blankenship like they hope but the Eagles may have the best secondary in football, but they really need to replace Jalen Phillips on the edge.
The loss of Phillips is overblown. He helped, but they only traded for him after everyone else got hurt. The defense was fine, and they were 6-2 before they traded for Phillips (and before Nakobe Dean returned from injury)…
They basically have the same defense they had opening day last year, plus Riq Woolen, minus Blankenship.
No they most definitely were not fine when it came to the pass rush. That’s why they signed Za’Darius Smith.
But if they can get Greenard like they’re trying to and he bounces back and is anything close to the force he was in Houston and Minny prior to last year, that problem will be solved.
Lots of ifs.
Indeed it is. I still believe in Nolan Smith though, and Jalyx Hunt will be going into his second year as a starter.
Adding a genuine dominant edge rusher would be a smart insurance policy against either player getting injured or not taking the next step this upcoming season. I wanted it to be Trey but Greenard for a third round pick would be acceptable.
You are acting like Smith and Hunt can be the starters. Not even close. Like if they got Hendrickson, he’d be a rotation guy? They need to find a starting edge to go along with Nolan Smith, and then Hunt can be the rotation guy until he proves something. But think about it this way if they give up a number three for Greenland that basically means they gave up two number three pics to get a guy who is not as good as Phillips. Why give up another pic when they could’ve just re-signed Phillips for what every other good edge is going for
That’s not even remotely what I said.
I said getting a guy like Greenard or yes Trey would be good insurance against the current two starters not taking that next step.
It would move Smith back to a rotational role, not Hunt. Hunt is the starter on his side going forward. Smith still has to take that next step in order to become a starter for this defense.
They can’t afford Phillips at that price and it would be insane of them to try.
I’d really love if Carter can do that but I’m most excited to see what a hopefully fully healthy Makuba can do at the other safety spot.
How did nobody beat that offer?!?!?
As a Seahawks fan, there are few players I have been more happy to leave Seattle.
When he got burnt for that TD pass after the taunting penalty against the Rams, I felt for sure the Rams would win the game. That stand at their own six yard line, was one of, if not the best in Seahawks defensive history, even though I would take the Legion Of Boom over the Dark Side, any day …
I actually totally agree with this….. I thought the same
His up and down performances will not be missed. Way overpay for him but the eagles taking only a one year chance.