The Philadelphia Eagles have reportedly made a major addition to their secondary.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Eagles have agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $15 million with former Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl cornerback Riq Woolen. The move adds a high-upside defensive playmaker as Philadelphia continues reshaping its defense early in free agency.
Woolen becomes the first outside free agent the Eagles have signed during this free agency period.
“Woolen goes from the team that won the Super Bowl to the team that won the Super Bowl the year prior,” Schefter said.
Riq Woolen Brings Rare Size and Speed to Eagles Secondary
Woolen arrives in Philadelphia with one of the most unique athletic profiles of any cornerback in the NFL. The 6-foot-4 defensive back possesses elite physical traits, including 34-inch arms and blazing 4.26-second speed in the 40-yard dash.
Those measurables helped him quickly develop into one of the league’s most intriguing young corners after being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Woolen originally played wide receiver at UTSA before converting to cornerback, and his length and ball skills translated quickly at the NFL level.
While his aggressive style can occasionally lead to mistakes, his upside remains extremely high. Analysts have frequently pointed to his rare combination of size, speed and coverage ability as traits that could eventually lead to All-Pro level production.
Eagles Address Key Weakness in the Secondary
Finally!
That was the word echoed by many Eagles analysts and fans when the news broke Tuesday evening that Philadelphia had landed a new cornerback.
The move represents the Eagles’ first free-agent addition to address a major roster need after two frustrating days to open the market.
On the first day of free agency, Philadelphia watched several key defensive contributors depart, including Nakobe Dean, Jaelan Phillips and Reed Blankenship.
After a stretch of difficult news, finally adding a player was a welcome development for the organization and its fan base.
Philadelphia’s outside CB2 position emerged as a clear weakness during the 2025 season. Veteran cornerback Adoree’ Jackson struggled in coverage. He finished the year with a 54.1 PFF coverage grade while being targeted on 18 percent of his coverage snaps. That was the third-highest rate among qualifying cornerbacks.
Adding Woolen gives the Eagles a potential solution on the outside and provides defensive coordinator Vic Fangio with a versatile piece in his secondary.
Woolen’s ability to match up with larger receivers and his closing speed in coverage could allow Fangio to be more aggressive schematically.
Elite coverage was a major factor in the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl during the 2024 season.
If Woolen can tap into his major upside, Philadelphia’s secondary could once again become one of the most dangerous units in the NFL.
Woolen’s signing is a great first offseason move for Howie Roseman and the Eagles.
Eagles Officially Land Top Free Agent CB on $15M Deal