{"id":243713,"date":"2025-07-28T21:46:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T21:46:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/243713\/"},"modified":"2025-07-28T21:46:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T21:46:15","slug":"woolen-can-benefit-from-griffins-return-to-seattle-seahawks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/243713\/","title":{"rendered":"Woolen can benefit from Griffin’s return to Seattle Seahawks"},"content":{"rendered":"

By signing veteran cornerback Shaquill Griffin last month, the Seattle Seahawks added some needed depth to their cornerback room<\/a> and an established pro who could challenge Josh Jobe for the team\u2019s third corner spot.<\/p>\n

But there could be another benefit to having Griffin in the fold.<\/p>\n

Bump: Riq Woolen is Seahawks player with most to gain \u2013 and lose<\/a><\/p>\n

Heading into his ninth NFL season, the 30-year-old Griffin is by far the most experienced cornerback on the Seahawks\u2019 roster. He has 82 career starts, including 53 with Seattle over his first four seasons after being drafted by the Seahawks in 2017.<\/p>\n

During a recent Blue 88 segment on Seattle Sports\u2019 Brock and Salk, former NFL quarterback Brock Huard<\/a> said Griffin\u2019s 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cGriffin\u2019s been around this block,\u201d Huard said. \u201cHe was there as a drafted Seahawk. He went elsewhere. He\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I do think that played a role in him being back here. I really do. \u2026 He can still run well enough and he can still play. But I think it\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> run defense grade in both 2022 and 2023 before earning a 76.2 run defense grade in 2024.<\/p>\n

\u201cRiq has flashed big-time ceiling, big-time ability, and still has covered pretty darn well over the three years statistically,\u201d Huard said. \u201cBut putting your face in there and being willing to be an edge and to tackle \u2013 that\u2019s what Shaq did, and I really hope that he imparts some of that wisdom on a young Riq Woolen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Listen to the full Blue 88 segment at this link<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

More on the Seattle Seahawks<\/p>\n

\u2022 Bump: Breakout candidate could take Seattle Seahawks\u2019 D to next level<\/a>
\u2022 Report: Seattle Seahawks RB Kenny McIntosh believed to have torn ACL<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Seattle Seahawks LB Ernest Jones feels \u2018a lot more explosive\u2019 after surgery<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Macdonald has lofty praise for Seattle Seahawks DE DeMarcus Lawrence<\/a>
\u2022 News and notes from Day 1 of Seattle Seahawks training camp<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow @CameronVanTil<\/a><\/p>\n

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