Seahawks Have Not Held Talks With Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen
After capping off the 2025 season with a win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LX, Seahawks safety Coby Bryant and cornerback Riq Woolen are among their notable contributors heading for free agency. Despite playing key roles for the champs, Bryant and Woolen recently revealed that they had yet to engage in contract talks with the team, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.
The Seahawks and Bryant discussed a new deal before the season. Nothing came together then, but there is no animosity on Bryant’s part. He said last week that he “would definitely love to be here,” per Condotta. It’s fair to say the 26-year-old’s asking price has gone up in the past few months, though.
A Seahawk since they chose him in the fourth round in 2022, Bryant is fresh off his first season as a full-time starter. The former Cincinnati Bearcat played 15 games in the regular season and notched career highs in interceptions (four) and passes defensed (seven). Pro Football Focus ranked his performance 28th among 91 qualifying safeties.
On the heels of a 66-tackle regular season, Bryant added another 10 (and two more PDs) over three playoff victories. A return to Seattle is now up in the air, but if he reaches the open market in March, Bryant will be among the most sought-after safeties available.
Bryant’s potential departure would not leave the back end of the Seahawks’ defense in dire straits. They would still have Julian Love, Ty Okada and the versatile Nick Emmanwori, who excelled as a rookie, as options. Okada is unsigned for now, but as an exclusive rights free agent, the Seahawks won’t have any trouble retaining him. The same can’t be said for Bryant, who will cash in after playing for a relative pittance on his rookie contract.
Woolen, another of general manager John Schneider‘s draft steals, joined the Seahawks as a fifth-rounder in 2022. As a rookie out of UTSA, Woolen burst on the scene with a league-leading seven interceptions. He also earned a Pro Bowl nod then, his lone 17-game season to date, but Woolen hasn’t gotten a second invite.
While Woolen went on to start in 29 of 30 appearances from 2023-24, he came off the bench in nine of 16 games in 2025. With his playing time diminishing, multiple pre-deadline reports identified Woolen as a trade candidate. He wound up staying put and finishing the regular season with 41 tackles, 12 passes defensed and a career-low one pick.
Woolen, who chipped in eight tackles and four PDs in the postseason, was on the field for 49 of 71 defensive plays in the Super Bowl. That may go down as his last game with the Seahawks.
Seattle is facing further uncertainty at cornerback, where Josh Jobe is also unsigned. Jobe ate into Woolen’s playing time over a career-high 15 starts in 2025, but the latter has the more impressive resume. That might make it “easier for the team to keep Jobe,” Condotta writes. The Seahawks may end up retaining one of them, but keeping both appears unlikely, especially with No. 1 corner Devon Witherspoon eligible for a big-money extension this offseason.
NFC Trade Notes: Mafe, Woolen, Shaheed, Cowboys, Packers, Buccaneers, Lions
As one of three NFC West teams sporting a five-win record, the Seahawks do not fit the profile of a seller at the trade deadline. Nevertheless, a pair of notable defenders continue to be mentioned in trade talk.
Cornerback Tariq Woolen remains a name to watch ahead of the November 4 deadline. The most recent update on his status indicated he could remain in Seattle. Things could change in short order, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Seattle prefers to keep Woolen in place through the remainder of the season.
The former Pro Bowler has struggled this season and his rookie contract is set to expire at the end of the campaign. The same is also true of edge rusher Boye Mafe, who could very well depart in free agency this spring. As such, the 26-year-old is worth monitoring on the trade front. Schefter adds, though, that the Seahawks would also prefer to keep him.
Here are some other trade notes from around the NFC:
- In terms of receivers, one of the top candidates to move shortly is Rashid Shaheed. The Saints have been connected to an asking price of a Day 2 pick for the pending free agent. In particular, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football passes along New Orleans asked an AFC suitor for a third-round selection. Shaheed would provide a notable vertical addition to any acquiring team, but a price that high would be a surprise for a rental. It will be interesting to see if the Saints lower their asking price in the coming days.
- Logan Wilson‘s trade request is still in effect, and he is among the defenders worth monitoring on the Bengals. A number of teams have made calls recently, and Schefter reports the Cowboys are among them. Dallas could stand to use one (or more) defensive additions given the team’s play on that side of the ball, and the team is not only in the market for rentals. Wilson – who has 65 starts to his name – is under contract through 2027.
- The Packers faced questions about their secondary entering the campaign, but the team sits 15th against the pass so far. Green Bay is among the teams looking into corners on the trade market, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports (subscription required). Tyson Campbell, Roger McCreary, Michael Carter II and (most recently) Jaire Alexander have already been dealt ahead of the deadline. Other corners could be on the move, however, and with nearly $12MM in cap space the Packers can afford a rental addition.
- Sitting atop the NFC South, the Buccaneers could look to add. It would nonetheless come as a surprise if a notable acquisition were to be made. Greg Auman of Fox Sports predicts Tampa Bay will (if anything) only be in the market for a depth addition in the rental market. Adding at the linebacker spot or along the edge would be feasible, per Auman, but a major move should not be expected.
- Another team not viewed as a serious buyer is the Lions. Defensive depth could still be targeted, though, and Russini writes safety and defensive line are among the positions being explored. Detroit is also among the teams which have called the Bengals about their defensive trade candidates (including Wilson but also cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt). With over $22MM in cap space, the Lions could afford a rental with ease.
CB Tariq Woolen “More Likely Than Not” To Stick With Seahawks
Once described as a “strong trade candidate,” it sounds like Tariq Woolen may actually be sticking in Seattle after all. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the cornerback is “more likely than not” to stay with the Seahawks through the trade deadline.
[RELATED: Seahawks CB Riq Woolen ‘Strong Trade Candidate’]
As an impending free agent, Woolen was an assumed trade target for teams seeking a rental in their secondary. With the Seahawks firmly in the playoff picture, the team doesn’t necessarily have much incentive to deal off veteran parts. Plus, Garafolo notes that the organization has still “not given up hope” that Woolen will be a long-term piece, an indication that they could pursue a new contract with the player after this season.
A former fifth-round pick, it didn’t take long for Woolen to burst onto the scene. He led the NFL with six interceptions as a rookie en route to a PFWA All-Rookie Team selection and a Pro Bowl nod. Pro Football Focus also ranked the UTSA product 34th among 118 qualifying cornerbacks during that 2022 season.
That rookie campaign still represents the player’s best NFL campaign. He hauled in another five interceptions between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, with Pro Football Focus ranking him towards the middle of the pack during those two years. He’s also taken a bit of a step back in 2025. The 26-year-old has yet to haul in an interception this season, with PFF currently ranking him 94th at his position.
Even after missing Week 6, Woolen is still second among Seahawks cornerbacks in snaps played this season, so the coaching staff is plenty dependent on the veteran. Devon Witherspoon is expected to return to the lineup this weekend, and with Josh Jobe leading the position grouping through the first half of the season, Woolen could be eyeing a reduced role down the stretch. Still, the organization seems to value the depth he’ll provide as they look to make a push towards the postseason.
Seahawks CB Riq Woolen ‘Strong Trade Candidate’
With the Nov. 4 trade deadline approaching, a change of scenery could be in store for Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen. Multiple executives believe Woolen is a “strong trade candidate,” according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
“They’ve been wanting to move him for a while,” an executive told Fowler, adding that Woolen isn’t a fit in the Seahawks’ defense under head coach Mike Macdonald.
A fifth-round pick in 2022, Woolen was at his best early in his career under head coach Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt. Woolen went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie and tied for the league lead with six interceptions. He added another two picks in 2023, the last year of the Carroll/Hurtt regime.
While Woolen continued to flash his playmaking skills last year with three INTs under Macdonald and D-coordinator Aden Durde, his production has gone backward this season. Woolen has continued to log significant playing time (he ranks fourth among Seahawks defenders), but he hasn’t registered a pick through six games. Pro Football Focus ranks his performance 101st out of 112 qualifying corners.
Although Woolen may not be an ideal fit for Macdonald’s defense, the Seahawks’ cornerback depth would take a hit in the event of a trade. The team has already gone without two-time Pro Bowl corner Devon Witherspoon in five of seven games (including three in a row) because of injuries, though Macdonald expects him back after a Week 8 bye (via John Boyle of Seahawks.com). A Woolen-less Seattle defense would rely on Witherspoon, Josh Jobe, and Derion Kendrick as its top options at corner.
If a team pries Woolen from the 5-2 Seahawks by the deadline, that club would be acquiring a pure rental. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder is due to reach free agency in the offseason. He’s earning a $5.35MM base salary and carries a $5.44MM cap hit.
The Raiders are unlikely to contend for a playoff spot, but with Carroll as their head coach, they’ve come up as potential Woolen suitors. Unlike the Raiders, the 6-1 Colts and 5-2 Patriots are front-runners for playoff berths. Those two are among teams looking for corners in advance of the deadline. Either could be a fit for Woolen, whose days as a Seahawk may be numbered.
Raiders Could Pursue Seahawks CB Tariq Woolen
Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen was mentioned as a trade candidate earlier this season, and Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline confirms that the 2022 fifth-round pick could be on his way out of Seattle.
Woolen is entering the final year of his rookie deal. He has been a full-time starter for the Seahawks since his dazzling debut season with a league-high six interceptions on his way to a Pro Bowl nod and a third-place finish in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. He was not as dominant in 2023, but still played very well, and his performance did not take a noticeable dip under new head coach Mike Macdonald in 2024.
However, Woolen has struggled in his five starts this season, allowing catches on 66.7% of his targets and 9.1 yards per target, both career-worsts. He was reportedly facing a role reduction heading into October, but it never materialized. Woolen played almost every snap for the Seahawks defense in their first five games until a concussion knocked him out of the game in Week 5. He remained sidelined in Week 6, when veteran Shaquill Griffin started in his place.
Based on reports about his availability, it seems like Seattle is not planning to re-sign Woolen and will instead see what they can get for him on the trade market. It would still be a somewhat surprising move for a 4-2 team with playoff aspirations to part ways with a starting-caliber cornerback. Even if Macdonald wants to de-emphasize the former UTSA standout, Woolen is still an excellent insurance policy in case of injuries, which have already been a constant problem in Seattle this year.
Still, if the Seahawks put Woolen on the trade block, the Raiders are expected to come calling, per Pauline. Las Vegas needs a cornerback, and head coach Pete Carroll is plenty familiar with Woolen after drafting and developing him in 2022 and 2023.
Pauline also mentions Seattle’s interest in Dolphins running back De’Von Achane, but such a player-for-player swap seems far-fetched. The Dolphins are expected to be sellers ahead of the deadline, but Achane is a foundational piece of Mike McDaniel‘s offense who is under contract through 2026. Reports have generally indicated that the Dolphins will be patient with McDaniel this season, but he is still on the hot seat. If he is coaching for his job, he will not want to move such an important offensive weapon, especially with Tyreek Hill already gone for the year.
Seahawks CB Riq Woolen Viewed As Trade Candidate
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen was a surprise success story in 2022, as the fifth-round rookie led the NFL with six interceptions and earned Pro Bowl honors while finishing third – behind top-five selections Sauce Gardner and Aidan Hutchinson – in Defensive Rookie of the Year balloting. Now, however, it is unclear whether he will even play out the final year of his rookie deal with the team that drafted him.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, rival clubs believe Woolen can be obtained via trade in advance of the November 4 deadline. And there are several reasons for that.
One, Seattle’s best corner, Devon Witherspoon, returned after a two-game injury absence to play a full complement of defensive snaps in the Seahawks’ Thursday night victory over the Cardinals. Although Woolen played 92.5% of the team’s snaps in the win, Witherspoon’s return and the emergence of fellow corners Josh Jobe and Derion Kendrick – an August waiver claim who played well in Witherspoon’s stead in Weeks 2 and 3 – could push Woolen down the depth chart.
While Rapoport’s report says Woolen’s playing time has diminished, NFL.com’s Bobby Kownack clarifies that the 26-year-old’s usage is expected to decrease moving forward. Indeed, ESPN’s Brady Henderson reported in the wake of Seattle’s Week 1 loss to the 49ers that Woolen’s status as a starting corner was up in the air.
In that contest, Woolen misplayed two throws on San Francisco’s game-winning drive, and he has not rebounded in the ensuing three games. Pro Football Focus has assigned him an abysmal 40.1 coverage grade for his work over the first four weeks of the campaign, and he has already committed six penalties. That comes on the heels of a 2024 season in which he also made costly errors late in games.
Woolen is surrendering a generous 106.7 QB rating as the closest defender in 2025. Jobe, by contrast, is giving up a meager 40.4 QB rating, and he secured an interception in the losing effort in Week 1. On the strength of his strong but limited sample size, Kendrick is currently ranked as PFF’s second-best corner.
It seems Woolen has not taken to head coach Mike Macdonald’s scheme, and a change of scenery could be a welcome development for both player and team. As Rapoport notes, the impending return of second-round rookie Nick Emmanwori will further crowd Seattle’s DB group. Emmanwori, who suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 1, is expected back in Week 5.
Any acquiring team would have exclusive negotiating rights with Woolen until the start of the legal tampering period in March, which would obviously be attractive to a club that believes it can engineer a return to top form for the UTSA product.
Seahawks DL Mike Morris Out For Season; CB Riq Woolen Likely To Miss Time
The Seahawks will be without one of their rookies the rest of the way. They placed Mike Morris on IR today, and while that is no longer an automatic season-ending transaction, it will be in the rookie defensive lineman’s case.
Morris will need season-ending shoulder surgery, Pete Carroll said (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson). A fifth-round pick out of Michigan, Morris played 26 defensive snaps in Seattle’s Week 1 game. He was inactive in Week 2. Brought in as part of a D-line overhaul, Morris made three tackles against the Rams. Last season at Michigan, the 6-foot-6 pass rusher totaled 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
Of the six defensive linemen who began the day on the Seahawks’ active roster, only one — backup Myles Adams — was with the team last season. Seattle brought in Dre’Mont Jones and Mario Edwards and reunited with Jarran Reed this offseason. A round before selecting Morris, the Seahawks chose Mississippi State’s Cameron Young. Bryan Mone remains with the Seahawks, but the veteran D-lineman is on the team’s reserve/PUP list.
Seattle won last week despite playing without both its starting tackles, but the team also squeaked past Detroit with top cornerback Riq Woolen leaving the game due to a chest injury. The issue will likely sideline Woolen for Week 3, Carroll added, though the 14th-year coach indicated the second-year starter’s issue is likely not serious enough for an IR move to enter the equation. The Seahawks, who also began the season without No. 5 overall pick Devon Witherspoon, promoted veteran cornerback Artie Burns from their practice squad Tuesday.
Additionally, the Seahawks waived linebacker Tyreke Smith on Wednesday. A 2022 fifth-rounder out of Ohio State, Smith has played in one regular-season game. He missed last season due to injury. The team also plans to sign tight end Brady Russell off the Eagles’ practice squad, The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar tweets. Russell is a rookie UDFA out of Colorado. Will Dissly is battling a shoulder injury, leading to the expected P-squad poaching. Because the Seahawks plan to sign Russell from the Eagles’ practice squad, he must remain on their active roster for three weeks.
Seahawks Sign CB Artie Burns To Active Roster
Artie Burns is joining Seattle’s active roster. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Seahawks have signed the cornerback from their practice squad to the 53-man roster.
Burns struggled to live up to his first-round pedigree during his four seasons with the Steelers, starting only 32 of his 58 appearances. His fifth-year option was naturally declined, and the cornerback caught on with the Bears before the 2020 campaign. Unfortunately, a torn ACL knocked him out for the entire season, and he started six of his 11 games for Chicago during his comeback campaign in 2021.
He spent most of last year in Seattle, getting into three games. He re-signed with the organization this past offseason, and after getting cut during roster deadline day, he caught on with the practice squad. He’s already been promoted for both of Seattle’s two games this season, with the veteran appearing in 33 defensive snaps.
Riq Woolen suffered a chest injury during Sunday’s win over the Lions, potentially leaving the team with a depleted CB corps. Fortunately, Pete Carroll indicated that Burns’ promotion to the full-time roster wasn’t related to Woolen’s injury.
“He’s still sore; he’s sore today,” Carroll said of Woolen (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). “We’re just one day at a time. There’s nothing that we need to do other than treat him, and then we see if he can make it back. We’ll take it one day at a time.”
If Woolen is forced to miss time, Burns would be re-joining a depth chart that also features Tre Brown, Coby Bryant, Michael Jackson, Kyu Blu Kelly, and Devon Witherspoon.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/6/23
Here are today’s minor moves as the weekend comes to a close:
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from PUP: DT Jordan Phillips
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: TE Chase Allen
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: G Yasir Durant
Green Bay Packers
- Released: Danny Etling
Houston Texans
- Signed: DT Khalil Davis
- Claimed off waivers (from Commanders): G Keaton Sutherland
- Placed on IR: T DJ Scaife
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from PUP: DT Byron Young
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Da’Shawn Hand, CB Parry Nickerson
- Waived: DT Anthony Montalvo
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: DL James Lynch (story)
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: RB Eno Benjamin (story)
New York Jets
- Waived/injured: LB Maalik Hall, LB Hamsah Nasirildeen
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OL Josh Andrews
- Waived/injured: WR Charleston Rambo
- Released: LB Davion Taylor
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Roderick Perry
- Activated from PUP: CB Tariq Woolen
- Waived: DE MJ Anderson
Washington Commanders
- Waived: G Keaton Sutherland
Andrews joins Philadelphia as a potentially strong depth piece on the offensive line. The seven-year veteran has played 48 games over the years with five different teams, so rejoining the Eagles, even with a new staff from when he left, shouldn’t be too big of an issue. Last year, he started five of the six games he played with the Saints.
Woolen underwent arthroscopic knee surgery back in May and was given a four-to-six-week recovery timeline. He was forced to start camp on the physically unable to perform list, but it’s time for him to make his way back to the field. Last year’s other starter at cornerback, Michael Jackson, has had a great camp and rookie Devon Witherspoon is pushing for a starting role, so Woolen will be glad to get back and reestablish his role in the secondary.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/26/23
Today’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on PUP: TE Zach Ertz, QB Kyler Murray, LB BJ Ojulari
- Placed on NFI: CB Garrett Williams
- Waived: TE Chris Pierce
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on NFI: DB Trayvon Mullen
- Waived: OT Brandon Kipper
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Javon Wims
- Waived: WR Marquez Stevenson
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Aviante Collins
- Waived: OL Lorenz Metz
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Cody Chrest
- Placed on NFI: OT Caleb Jones
- Waived/injured: WR Jeff Cotton
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on PUP: LB Dawuane Smoot
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on NFI: DT Neil Farrell
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from PUP: WR Pokey Wilson
- Placed on PUP: WR Jalen Guyton, DL Austin Johnson, DT Otito Ogbonnia
Los Angeles Rams
- Claimed off waivers (from Bears): LB Sterling Weatherford
- Placed on PUP: TE Hunter Long, OT Warren McClendon
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Kevin Atkins
- Reverted to IR: LB Elerson Smith
New York Jets
- Activated from PUP: TE C.J. Uzomah
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Deon Cain
- Placed on NFI: WR Devon Allen
- Released: TE Dalton Keene
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Kyahva Tezino
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DB Chris Steele
- Placed on PUP: S Jamal Adams, LB Jordyn Brooks, TE Noah Fant, NT Austin Faoliu, NT Bryan Mone, CB Tariq Woolen
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB A.J. Moore
- Waived: DT Curtis Brooks
Among the additions on today’s list, defensive back A.J. Moore is the most notable. The defensive back spent four years with the Texans to begin his career, compiling 69 tackles in 55 games while primarily playing on special teams. The 27-year-old spent a chunk of last season on the Titans practice squad, and he ultimately got into one game with the big-league club.