You simply cannot fault general manager Howie Roseman for exhausting every single avenue to improve the Philadelphia Eagles. While some moves have not worked out, others have worked out in ways we could not even imagine.
Many of those moves helped the team appear in two Super Bowls since the 2022 NFL Season, winning it all in 2024. Given what has happened over the past year, you get the sense that the 2026 campaign could be a 'make or break' year for many on the roster, and perhaps even some coaches.
Roseman was again active this offseason, finding more help on offense and even boosting the defense. One of the team's more high-profile additions was just dubbed a breakout candidate in 2026, and if that breakout comes true, the team's weakest position would suddenly no longer be weak.
Philadelphia Eagles CB Riq Woolen could breakout with the team in 2026
For CBS Sports, Zachary Pereles dubbed Riq Woolen as a breakout candidate for the Eagles this year:
"One of my favorite signings of the offseason, the Eagles nabbed Riq Woolen on a one-year, $12 million deal. An impressive size/speed combination, Woolen recorded six interceptions as a rookie. He has just six since and has dealt with some inconsistencies. But the talent has never been a question. The floor in Philadelphia is that he makes too many poor plays to justify his being on the field, and the Eagles' CB2 problem remains unsolved. The median outcome is several good plays and some head-scratchers. But the ceiling? The ceiling is that the Eagles have the best cornerback trio in the NFL, and Woolen is a Pro Bowler again. He could flourish in his new home.
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The Eagles have had an issue at that CB2 spot for a while now. Despite sporting one of the best secondaries and top defenses in the NFL under Vic Fangio, the de facto CB2 slot has been a sore spot.
Enter, Woolen. Signing a one-year deal with the Eagles this offseason, Woolen came over from the Seattle Seahawks, helping the team win the Super Bowl in 2025. A Pro Bowler as a rookie, Woolen burst onto the scene in 2022, racking up six interceptions, 16 passes defended, and 63 total tackles.
His intimidating size, length, and speed have always made him a massive play-making threat at the position, but he was reduced to a part-time starting role this past season. He was still able to appear in 16 regular-season games and, for the fourth year in a row, finished with double-digit defended passes.
According to Pro Football Reference, Woolen was stingy in coverage in 2025, allowing an opposing completion percentage of just 54.2 and an opposing passer rating of 75.5. Over his four years, Pro Football Reference lists his coverage rating at 70.6, which is an outstanding mark.
There really isn't anything Woolen can't do at the position, and he should fit in nicely in Fangio's defense, a coach who demands his cornerbacks be strong in coverage and also be physical at the position.
Where Woolen seemed to struggle in 2025 was with missed tackles and penalties, which could make him a 'boom or bust' player in 2026. According to nflpenalties.com, Woolen was flagged 11 times last year, which includes the playoffs. This totaled 104 penalty yards.
That could be a cause for concern, but Woolen has also previously been seen as one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL, and with Fangio being one of the best defensive coordinators in NFL history, there is reason to believe that Woolen could regress to the mean and become a bit cleaner with not as many penalties.
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If the penalties can improve in 2026, the Eagles would end up with two legitimate CB1s on the outside, obviously including Quinyon Mitchell. There is a path for Philly to again sport the best cornerback room in the NFL, and if Woolen can break out this year, Roseman would again look like a total genius.
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