Woolen can benefit from Griffin's return to Seattle Seahawks

By signing veteran cornerback Shaquill Griffin last month, the Seattle Seahawks added some needed depth to their cornerback room and an established pro who could challenge Josh Jobe for the team’s third corner spot.

But there could be another benefit to having Griffin in the fold.

Bump: Riq Woolen is Seahawks player with most to gain – and lose

Heading into his ninth NFL season, the 30-year-old Griffin is by far the most experienced cornerback on the Seahawks’ roster. He has 82 career starts, including 53 with Seattle over his first four seasons after being drafted by the Seahawks in 2017.

During a recent Blue 88 segment on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk, former NFL quarterback Brock Huard said Griffin’s experience could be particularly beneficial to 26-year-old Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen, whose first three NFL seasons have included flashes of big-time potential along with stretches of inconsistency.

“Griffin’s been around this block,” Huard said. “He was there as a drafted Seahawk. He went elsewhere. He’s seen other places. He brings a wealth of experience. If Boye Mafe looks to DeMarcus Lawrence (in the edge rusher room), I really hope Riq Woolen looks to Shaq Griffin.

“And I do think that played a role in him being back here. I really do. … He can still run well enough and he can still play. But I think it’s also, hey Riq, this is how you play the game. This is how you stick your face in the fan. This is how you come up and finish.”

Since bursting onto the scene with a spectacular 2022 rookie campaign, the 6-foot-4 Woolen has flashed top-tier talent with his rare combination of speed, length and athleticism. The former fifth-round pick has 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 has also had a perplexing slew of costly gaffes and misplays. He has surrendered 12 touchdown passes over the past three seasons, 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 this past season, he was benched for the opening drive of a key Week 16 game against the Minnesota Vikings for what head coach Mike Macdonald said was a violation of team rules.

Another issue at times has been spotty run defense and tackling. Woolen, who dealt with a shoulder injury during his rookie season, posted a sub-50 Pro Football Focus run defense grade in both 2022 and 2023 before earning a 76.2 run defense grade in 2024.

“Riq has flashed big-time ceiling, big-time ability, and still has covered pretty darn well over the three years statistically,” Huard said. “But putting your face in there and being willing to be an edge and to tackle – that’s what Shaq did, and I really hope that he imparts some of that wisdom on a young Riq Woolen.”

Listen to the full Blue 88 segment at this link or in the audio player near the middle of this story. Tune into Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

Woolen can benefit from Griffin’s return to Seattle Seahawks

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