CB Riq Woolen, Eagles agree to one-year, $15 million deal: Sources

Super Bowl champion cornerback Riq Woolen has agreed to a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles worth $15 million, sources told The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

Woolen, who turns 27 in May, was the No. 24 player and No. 2 cornerback in The Athletic’s Top 150 free agents. He offers a rare combination of size and speed at the position, measuring 6 feet 4 with 33 5/8-inch arms and running a 4.26 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL combine.

The Seattle Seahawks drafted Woolen in the fifth round that year, and he made an immediate impact. As a rookie, he tied for the league lead in interceptions with six and earned a Pro Bowl selection.

However, Woolen has had his share of ups and downs the past three seasons. He was temporarily benched in 2023 and 2024, the latter of which was discipline for a team rule violation. After starting 17, 15 and 14 games in his first three seasons, respectively, Woolen started just seven regular-season games (and none of the three playoff games) in 2025, rotating with Josh Jobe as Seattle’s second outside cornerback. He led the Seahawks in penalty yardage and was second on the team in accepted penalties, according to TruMedia.

Woolen’s mistakes in the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams could have cost the Seahawks a chance to go to the Super Bowl. One play after his taunting penalty extended a Rams drive that was set to end in a punt, Woolen was beaten for a touchdown, giving Los Angeles new life late in the third quarter.

The Seahawks would hold on to win the game and win the Super Bowl two weeks later. Woolen played 69 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in the 29-13 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots.

Woolen has 53 passes defensed in four seasons, tied for second-most in the NFL since he entered the league. His 12 interceptions rank 10th over that span.

How he fits

Woolen is a true outside cornerback at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds with an elite athletic profile that included a 4.26-second 40-yard dash and a 42-inch vertical leap when he was coming out of college. He replaces Adoree’ Jackson as a starter for the Eagles, and there should be a good sense of how he’ll fit in the scheme. Woolen’s best season came as a rookie in 2022 with Eagles defensive line coach Clint Hurtt as his defensive coordinator in a scheme with some Vic Fangio influences. Woolen had been inconsistent with tackling and penalties at times during the past two years, although he’s also had high-level play (especially in coverage) that helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl. He can try to prove he’s a top-of-the-league cornerback on a one-year deal in a secondary with two All-Pros and hit the market again next March. — Zach Berman, Eagles beat writer

2026 roster impact

Woolen will start opposite All-Pro Quinyon Mitchell and in a secondary with All-Pro Cooper DeJean. The cornerback spot opposite Mitchell had been a question mark for the Eagles, with Jackson winning the job over Kelee Ringo and Jakorian Bennett last summer. There’s no question now. This move also ensures DeJean does not need to bounce inside, considering he’s capable of playing every spot in the secondary. DeJean can now stay in the slot when in nickel. On base downs, he can even play safety after Reed Blankenship departed. The Eagles are leaning into a defense fortified by a top-of-the-league secondary. They still must replace Blankenship when in nickel, but they have four of their five starters entrenched. — Zach Berman, Eagles beat writer

Cap update

It’s a one-year deal worth up to $15 million, but don’t expect that big cap charge to hit the Eagles’ books this season. The Eagles typically add void years to bring down a cap number. After they were unable to re-sign Jaelan Phillips on Monday, the Eagles had some flexibility to spend — but not much. And an A.J. Brown trade would further tighten the cap space if it occurs before June 1. — Zach Berman, Eagles beat writer

Zach Berman’s takeaway

This is a good move for the Eagles on paper, investing a high-end free agent — he was The Athletic’s sixth-best free agent still available — with an age and athletic profile that the Eagles crave. Add in familiarity in the building and a reasonable projection ot the Eagles’ scheme, and you can see why they’d be aggressive when Woolen lingered on the market. Woolen would have presumably wanted a multi-year deal, but it made sense for him to pivot to the Eagles and the one-year deal gives Woolen a chance to build his value and it doesn’t tie the Eagles down with a long-term contract, There’s boom or bust potential, but it’s an Eagles-ish swing for one of the best available players they could have signed. I didn’t think the second cornerback spot was a pronounced need and figured they’d go after a bargain bin option again, but I also didn’t think Woolen would sign a one-year deal that doesn’t burden the Eagles’ cap space. You can’t argue with a cornerback trio of Mitchell, DeJean and Woolen — especially as a Day 2 pivot.