Riq Woolen is already turning heads in Philadelphia: 'One of the best secondary groups in the league'
The former Seahawks corner signed a one-year deal worth up to $15 million. Early in the offseason, the Eagles like what they see, and so does Vic Fangio.
Riq Woolen has not played a regular-season snap for the Eagles yet, but he is already making people in Philadelphia take notice. The 6-foot-4 cornerback, who signed a one-year deal worth up to $15 million in free agency after four seasons in Seattle, has slotted into a young Eagles secondary that he believes can be special. 'I feel like we can be one of the best secondary groups in the league,' Woolen said. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is on board too, calling himself thrilled with the addition.
How did Woolen end up with the Eagles?
Woolen reached Philadelphia through free agency, not a trade. After the 2025 season ended his run in Seattle, the Eagles agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $15 million. It is a classic prove-it arrangement for a player whose physical tools have never been in question. The short term suits both sides: Philadelphia gets a high-upside corner without a long commitment, and Woolen gets a chance to rebuild his value on a contender. The move continues a busy offseason for the Eagles, who traded A.J. Brown to New England and signed defensive end AJ Epenesa.
What does he bring physically?
Woolen is one of the rare athletes who tests like a track star. He stands 6-foot-4 and ran a 4.26-second 40-yard dash, a combination of length and speed that almost no cornerback can match. That profile is why he was a coveted prospect despite coming out of Texas-San Antonio as a fifth-round pick in 2022. The traits translated quickly in Seattle: he tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions as a rookie and earned a Pro Bowl nod. For an Eagles defense that values size and ball skills on the perimeter, his measurements alone make him an intriguing fit.
Where does he fit in the secondary, and what did the coaches say?
Woolen joins a cornerback group built around Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, two of the brightest young defensive backs in the league. He started 53 games over four seasons in Seattle and recorded 12 interceptions and 53 passes defensed, holding targets to a 54.2 percent completion rate. His final Seattle season was bumpier, as he lost his starting job to Josh Jobe, so Philadelphia is a chance to reset. Fangio, for his part, did not hide his enthusiasm: 'I was thrilled to get him. I think he's going to play well for us.' If Woolen recaptures his early-career form, the secondary he talked up could live up to the billing.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: Riq Woolen makes strong first impression with Eagles
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