What could Seattle Seahawks get back in a Riq Woolen trade?

The Riq Woolen saga took another twist on Sunday, when NFL Network reported that teams are “monitoring” the embattled Seattle Seahawks cornerback as a potential target ahead of the league’s Nov. 4 trade deadline.

Report: Teams monitoring Seahawks CB Woolen as potential trade target

The report comes amid a rough start to the season for the 2022 Pro Bowler, whose up-and-down career with the Seahawks has featured both flashes of tantalizing potential and head-scratching mistakes.

NFL Network’s report doesn’t specify whether Seattle would be interested in trading the 6-foot-4 Woolen, who is in the final year of his rookie contract. But it does indicate he’d draw at least some interest on the trade market if the Seahawks were to make him available.

With the emergence of cornerbacks Josh Jobe and Derion Kendrick to go along with two-time Pro Bowl corner Devon Witherspoon, it’s possible that Seattle could feel comfortable enough with its cornerback depth to consider placing Woolen on the trade block.

If the Seahawks were to consider dealing Woolen ahead of the trade deadline, what could they get back in return?

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, who was asked that question Tuesday on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk, thinks it would be somewhere in the realm of a fifth-round conditional draft pick that could turn into a fourth-round pick.

“To me, it feels more like you get a five that turns into a four,” Jeremiah said. “At the most, I would think a four that would turn into a three, (but) that seems like maybe that coffee’s a little rich. But I think that’s the family of which you’re looking at in terms of compensation.”

Jeremiah was then asked how realistic it’d be for the Seahawks to instead do a player-for-player swap, which could allow them to address depth needs at another position, such as guard or inside linebacker.

In response, Jeremiah said he thinks player-for-player trades are underutilized by NFL teams.

“I think that’s one of the blind spots for (general managers) in the NFL, to be honest,” Jeremiah said. “I think there’s more opportunity for ‘we can each help each other’ type of situations where we’ve got a little depth here, you’ve got a little depth there. And I’m not even saying backup. I’m talking like some starting-caliber good, good players.

“I don’t understand why more of it doesn’t happen, because it seems like (those opportunities are) out there where we can both be better,” he added. “… There’s no reason for this to be a ‘we get today, you get tomorrow’ in terms of draft picks. Like, this is something that we can do right now that’s gonna help both of our teams.”

Over the course of his up-and-down career, Woolen has flashed top-tier talent with his rare combination of speed, length and athleticism. A fifth-round draft pick out of Texas-San Antonio, 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 has surrendered 13 touchdown passes since the start of 2022, which is tied for 12th-most in the league over that span, according to Stathead.

Through four games this season, Woolen ranks 100th out of 103 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 had a particularly rough performance in Seattle’s Week 1 loss to San Francisco, when he misplayed a pair of passes during the 49ers’ go-ahead TD drive in the closing minutes. He also committed three penalties for 44 yards in the Seahawks’ last-second win over the Arizona Cardinals last Thursday night.

Last year, Woolen 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. He also appeared to get benched for a late-season game in 2023, back when Pete Carroll was Seattle’s head coach.

Listen to the full conversation with NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah at this link or in the audio player near the middle of this story. Tune in to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

What could Seattle Seahawks get back in a Riq Woolen trade?

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