It was not the most memorable free agency for the Philadelphia Eagles, as they signed a bunch of one-year deals for cheap, but one guy from that class is becoming the steal of the offseason.
New Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen has had a ton of buzz around him for his performance during OTAs, leaving everyone to believe that he could be a difference-maker in 2026. Bleacher Report writer Gary Davenport seems to have bought into the buzz around Woolen.
"Woolen was a Pro Bowler after picking off six passes as a rookie in 2022, but by last year he fell from favor in Seattle, playing a career low in snaps. But if he can build on the momentum he has developed in his new home and recapture his previous form, the Eagles could have the best trio of cornerbacks in the NFL. And Woolen could be in line for a big payday in 2027."
Riq Woolen is going to be special in 2026
Last season, Woolen finished 2025 with 41 tackles, 12 pass deflections, one interception, one quarterback hit, and one tackle for loss. Pro Football Focus gave Woolen a grade of 61.2, ranking 61st out of 114 NFL cornerbacks, as he allowed a passer rating of 78.9 and 8.5 yards allowed per reception.
Woolen dominated through minicamp as he picked off Jalen Hurts and had multiple occasions where he was making a play on the ball with tight coverage. Many have considered him the biggest winner of OTAs as he has put himself in the driver's seat for a big 2026 season.
His 6-foot-4 height helps make him a fascinating prospect at cornerback, which continues to give him chances to play. In the past, Woolen has shown he can be a starting corner in the league, but struggled with consistency.
It helps that this year, he's got two of the NFL's best cornerbacks in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean back there with him. That alone can make any cornerback play better, as it helped Adoree' Jackson get through the end of the season after a rough start.
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The vibes are very different going into 2026 at CB2, as Eagles fans truly believe they have found the right man in Woolen. Philly might be faced with a good problem of paying him if Woolen dominates throughout the 2026 season, which Eagles general manager Howie Roseman would be more than happy to do.
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