It wasn't an offseason filled with fireworks that most people wanted out of the Philadelphia Eagles, but one signing got the attention of everyone.
The Eagles signed cornerback Riq Woolen to a one-year, $12 million fully guaranteed contract with only a little over $3 million affecting the salary cap. That move made the top 50 of Sports Illustrated's best free agent signings, placing him at number 33.
"Woolen had a sensational rookie season but hasn’t lived up to expectations since then. He’ll have a great bounce-back opportunity with the Eagles, joining a cornerbacks group that includes Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean."
What does the 33rd ranking say about Eagles signing Riq Woolen?
The former fifth-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2022 had an interesting 2025 campaign as Woolen made 41 tackles, 12 pass deflections, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit, and one interception in 16 games. Last year, Woolen lost time in the starting lineup, but he found his footing late in the season, putting himself in a position for a good signing day.
The note made about him not living up to expectations over the years makes for an interesting conversation about what that says about the Eagles. Last year, Philly took a chance at cornerback with Adoree' Jackson and Kelee Ringo. That did not pay off.
They tried everything to fix that mistake, trading for multiple cornerbacks, including Jakorian Bennett, Jaire Alexander, and Michael Carter II. None of those moves worked out for them last year.
Giving big money for Woolen even if it is on a one-year deal is still a considerable risk for the Eagles and they are apparently willing to take again. Philly would love a situation where they can have a draft pick like Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean pop out of nowhere and become All-Pros, but it's rare to have that kind of success.
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Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is once again putting all his cards on the table in trying to find the perfect CB2 with Woolen. The fan base hopes it'll pay off and not end up like last season.