Pro Bowl CB Rumored to Be on Trade Block, Eagles Could Show Interest: Report
The Philadelphia Eagles spent the offseason retooling their secondary, but a month into the season, injuries and inconsistency have turned it into a weekly puzzle defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has to solve.
Behind Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, the depth chart is a mashup of young players still learning on the fly and veterans who have yet to break through. With Adoree’ Jackson banged up and Jakorian Bennett on IR, Kelee Ringo has been getting more snaps, but there’s no doubt Philly could use some depth at CB.
That’s why Seattle’s Riq Woolen — a 6-foot-4 corner with freakish speed and ball skills — should absolutely be on Philly’s radar as the trade deadline creeps closer.
“With #Seahawks star CB Devon Witherspoon returning on Thursday, teams are monitoring Pro Bowl CB Riq Woolen as a possible trade target by the deadline,” Ian Rapoport wrote on X on September 28. “Woolen’s playing time has diminished, and in a contract year, teams believe he could be available.”
A Closer Look at Woolen’s Game
Woolen turned heads at the 2022 NFL Combine with a blazing 4.26-second 40-yard dash — rare speed for someone his size. Drafted by Seattle in the fifth round that spring, the converted UTSA wide receiver immediately carved out a starting job in the secondary.
As a rookie in 2022, Woolen started all 17 games, racking up 63 tackles (46 solo), 16 passes defended and six interceptions — one returned for a touchdown — tying for the league lead in picks. He also returned a blocked punt for a score that year.
The breakout earned him a Pro Bowl nod and PFWA All-Rookie honors while helping Seattle reach the playoffs. He followed up in 2023 with 16 games (15 starts), posting 53 tackles, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions along with a pair of fumble recoveries.
In 2024, Woolen remained a fixture, starting 14 times in 15 appearances and adding 46 tackles, 14 passes defended, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
Now in his second season leading the Seahawks, head coach Mile Macdonald and his staff have no loyalty to Woolen, which could make him an odd man out very soon.
Should the Philadelphia Eagles try to Trade for Seahawks CB Riq Woolen?
Pairing Woolen with Mitchell would let Fangio lean into more press-match concepts while freeing DeJean to move between nickel, safety, and pressure looks. That flexibility disappears when depth pieces like Ringo are forced into every-down duty. Adding Woolen would restore balance and keep the Eagles’ scheme as multiple as Fangio likes it.
Financially, it’s also doable. Woolen carries a modest 2025 cap hit around $5.4 million — a number the Eagles can absorb easily. The young DB is also entering a contract year, so GM Howie Roseman could treat the final stretch as a test drive: if Woolen thrives, Philly could extend him before free agency; if not, they can let him walk.
So, what might it take to trade for Woolen? A Day 3 pick with a conditional sweetener tied to playing time or interceptions might be enough.
It remains to be seen whether the Seahawks will move him, but usually, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. We’ll see if Roseman is interested in bringing him aboard.
Lions Could Target $7 Million CB After Suffering Key Injury
The Detroit Lions came out of Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns with a resounding win, but it came at a cost to their secondary.
The Lions lost cornerback D.J. Reed to what head coach Dan Campbell hinted would be a long-term injury, with fellow defensive back Terrion Arnold also going down. With a hole in the secondary for the near future, the Lions could turn to a veteran cornerback who is aiming to return to the NFL in the second half of this season.
Lions Could Use Outside Help
Speaking to reporters after the game, Campbell hinted that Reed would miss at least the next game and could be out longer once the team determines the severity of his injury.
“I don’t know how — I don’t know what that’s going to be or how long. I mean, certainly, I cannot imagine [Reed] playing next week at a minimum until we get more tests done,” Campbell said. “And I don’t think [Arnold’s injury] a major, is a major thing. I don’t know. Then again, I don’t know about him next week, but it’s certainly not as significant as what, you know, is what Reed had.”
With two key players out, the Lions could look to a player who was seen as a potential free agent target this summer — veteran Asante Samuel Jr. The former Los Angeles Chargers defensive back has been dealing with a back injury, but is aiming to find a new team and return to the field in a matter of weeks.
“An update on Asante Samuel: He’s scheduled to undergo a CT scan in October to ensure successful spinal fusion,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported in a post on X. “At that point, he will look to sign with a team for the second half of the year. Several teams have kept in touch.”
If the Lions wanted to add long-term depth, they could look to sign Samuel to their practice squad and begin getting him up to speed on the defense so that he could potentially be ready to play in a few weeks.
Christian Booher of SI.com already pegged Samuel as a good fit for the Lions, writing in August that he could help mentor some of the team’s younger players.
“Injuries limited Samuel last season, as he appeared in just four games. While the Lions do have some established options at the cornerback position, bringing in more depth wouldn’t hurt the team,” Booher wrote.
Lions Defense Shined in Win Over Browns
Despite suffering injuries to both of their starting cornerbacks — and losing starting safety Kerby Joseph for a stretch of the game — the Lions dominated the struggling Browns offense in the 34-10 victory.
The Lions had three sacks and forced three turnovers, also scoring a touchdown on a 65-yard punt return from Kalif Raymond.
Star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson also went down briefly with an injury scare, but told reporters afterward that he just got the wind knocked out of him.
“I just got the wind knocked out of me,” Hutchinson said. “And I knew, I was trying to get up because I didn’t want people to start having flashbacks or anything. I couldn’t even breathe out there. I was like, ‘Damn, get up Aidan, get up,’ and I couldn’t. So I was like, ‘Just give me, like, 30 seconds and I’ll be good.’ And then we got up and we were good. We’re back.”
