This offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles made some noise with the big trades involving Jonathan Greenard and A.J. Brown, but free agency was very quiet.
Only one signing really moved the needle: cornerback Riq Woolen. That has looked like a great move so far, with Woolen being one of the highlights of OTAs.
Entering training camp, ESPN's Matt Bowen looked at the most impactful moves of the offseason and ranked them. Woolen was the highest-ranked Eagles move at 25, but it was the stat that Bowen shared that drove home this underrated signing.
"One of the most underrated signings in free agency, Woolen fits well on the perimeter of Vic Fangio's defense. Woolen can align opposite Quinyon Mitchell, giving the Eagles two long cover corners who can open and run. (Meanwhile, Cooper DeJean can play the slot in nickel sets.)
Woolen allowed 5.0 yards per target in coverage last season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, which ranked fourth best among the 87 defensive backs who were targeted at least 50 times."
Riq Woolen will help Eagles in more ways than one in 2026
It's refreshing for Eagles fans to have a player like Woolen who can make an immediate impact. Last year, the horrible experience with Adoree' Jackson and Kelee Ringo at CB2 made everyone in Philly appreciate what Woolen brings to the table.
In 12 games last year with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, Woolen racked up 41 tackles, 12 pass deflections, one interception, one quarterback hit, and one tackle for loss. He also allowed a passer rating of 78.9 and 8.5 yards allowed per reception. Pro Football Focus graded Woolen at a 61.2, ranking 61st out of 114 NFL cornerbacks in 2025.
There were some moments last year when Woolen was not at his best and was a liability. His emotions also got the best of him, resulting in unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. In the postseason, though, he gained his confidence and got back on track.
He's in a better situation in Philly with Mitchell and DeJean at cornerback. There will be plenty of opportunities for Woolen to step up and make plays in the Eagles' secondary as offenses stay away from All-Pros Mitchell and DeJean.
Read more: DeVonta Smith just needed 1 minute of Eagles fans' time to prove he's ready
Woolen played well at OTAs, but practice is very different from live games. The Eagles fan base wants to see him against other competition and how he holds up against the best.
Add us as a preferred source on Google