Reports regarding Riq Woolen’s availability in Seattle have circled since September. He was a complete tone-setter in his first three years in the Pacific Northwest, but his production has dropped significantly this year. He recorded six INTs in his rookie season (and was a strong contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year) but has recorded just five INTs since. He has just three passes defensed in six games this year, compared to 41 in 49 games through his first three seasons. As his production has slowed, fellow cornerbacks Devon Witherspoon and Joshua Jobe have exploded onto the scene, becoming the anchors of the Seattle secondary. Woolen has played fewer run defense snaps (113) than Jobe (134) but has a higher missed tackle rate (16.7%), a lower run stop rate (1.8%) and a lower run stop EPA (-1.2). Perhaps most importantly, the Seahawks run zone coverage at the eighth-highest rate in the league (81.2%), a scheme that Woolen struggles with, according to the numbers. Woolen has allowed a 139.2 passer rating in zone coverage (fifth-highest among defenders with 150+ zone coverage snaps this year) compared to a 43.2 passer rating in man coverage.
Heading into a contract year next season, he will likely cost a pretty penny, it might make sense for the ‘Hawks to part ways with Woolen and put all their chips on the Witherspoon-Jobe combination.
The Lions, one of the top NFC contenders, have a decent secondary; but with the addition of a seasoned cornerback with elite man coverage numbers, they could be great. Detroit plays man coverage at the fourth-highest rate in the league (45.2%). Terrion Arnold and Avonte Maddox have been banged up this year, but this is arguably more about adding a young, extremely talented cover corner than it is about depth. Per NFL.com’s Eric Edholm, “the Lions are in decent shape, draft picks-wise, and cap space isn’t an issue,” so investing here makes sense.
