Teams monitoring Seattle Seahawks CB as trade target

NFL teams are “monitoring” Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen as a potential trade deadline target, according to a report on Sunday by NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo.

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The report comes amid a rough start to the season for Woolen, who is in the final year of his rookie deal. The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 4, which comes after the conclusion of Week 9.

The NFL Network report doesn’t specify whether Seattle would be interesting in moving Woolen.

Woolen, a fifth-round draft pick out of Texas-San Antonio, burst onto the scene with a league-high-tying six interceptions and 16 pass breakups during a Pro Bowl rookie campaign in 2022.

But since then, the 6-foot-4 Woolen’s career has been marked by inconsistency – with both flashes of tantalizing potential and head-scratching mistakes.

Lately, it’s been more of the latter.

Through four games this season, Woolen ranks 99th out of 100 cornerbacks in Pro Football Focus grading. He has allowed 10 catches on 15 targets for 145 yards and a touchdown, according to PFF. He also has committed a team-high six penalties.

Woolen’s biggest miscues this year came in a Week 1 loss to San Francisco, when he misplayed a pair of passes on the 49ers’ go-ahead TD drive in the closing minutes.

The first gaffe came on a deep sideline pass where Woolen appeared to misjudge the ball and slow down, which allowed wide receiver Ricky Pearsall to get behind him for a key 45-yard completion. Then shortly after that, with the 49ers facing third-and-3 from the 4-yard line, Woolen appeared to overrun an end-zone jump ball, which allowed third-string tight end Jake Tonges to snag what proved to be the game-winning TD catch.

Woolen also had some rough moments in Seattle’s last-second win over the Arizona Cardinals this past Thursday night. He was flagged three times for 44 yards, including a 15-yard pass interference penalty that gave Arizona a first-and-goal on the first of its two fourth-quarter TD drives.

It also was notable on Thursday that Jobe and top cornerback Devon Witherspoon both played all 67 defensive snaps for Seattle, while Woolen played 62.

The Seahawks frequently use three-cornerback sets, so there’s not a big difference in playing time between their second and third cornerbacks. But the fact that Jobe was on the field for two-cornerback sets instead of Woolen would appear to indicate that Jobe has surpassed Woolen on the depth chart.

Over the course of his up-and-down career, Woolen has flashed top-tier talent with his rare combination of speed, length and athleticism. He totaled 11 interceptions and 41 pass breakups over his first three seasons, while also ranking among the top 15 cornerbacks in opposing completion percentage in both 2022 and 2024.

But on the flip side, Woolen also surrendered 12 touchdown passes between 2022 and 2024, which is tied for 15th-most in the league over that span. He also appeared to get benched for a late-season game in 2023. And last year, he was benched for the opening drive of a key Week 16 game against the Minnesota Vikings due to what head coach Mike Macdonald said was a violation of team rules.

Aside from Witherspoon, Jobe and Woolen, the other cornerbacks on Seattle’s 53-man roster are Derion Kendrick and Nehemiah Pritchett. Kendrick, who was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Rams last month, has two interceptions and five pass breakups this season. Pritchett has mostly played on special teams.

The Seahawks also have a pair of cornerbacks on their practice squad in veteran Shaquill Griffin and Shemar Jean-Charles.

Teams monitoring Seattle Seahawks CB as trade target

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