If there’s one thing the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens have in common this year, it’s injuries at the cornerback position.
The Lions have been struck by the injury bug at the cornerback position, where the team is staring down the barrel of not having both of their starters for an unknown amount of time.
Terrion Arnold is dealing with a shoulder injury and D.J. Reed is on injured reserve. That leaves guys like Amik Robertson, Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox to pick up the pieces for now.
In Baltimore, the question isn’t who’s injured, but rather who isn’t injured?
Chidobe Awuzie and Marlon Humphrey are just two players dealing with issues on a unit in Baltimore that has been ravaged by injuries throughout.
But there might be a solid option for both teams to upgrade their cornerback spot, and it comes in the form of Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl cornerback Riq Woolen. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox thinks he could be an option for Detroit and Baltimore at the trade deadline.
While Woolen was stellar early in his career—he allowed an opposing passer rating of just 48.7 as a rookie in 2022—he’s struggled to mesh with Mike Macdonald’s defense.
This year, he has allowed an opposing passer rating of 111.2 in coverage. However, this doesn’t mean he couldn’t help a different team in a different situation.
Potential Suitors: Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport kicked off the trade rumors for the Seahawks cornerback recently, so Woolen could very well be available.
“With Seahawks star CB Devon Witherspoon returning on Thursday, teams are monitoring Pro Bowl CB Riq Woolen as a possible trade target by the deadline, sources tell The Insiders,” Rapoport reported. “Woolen’s playing time has diminished, and in a contract year, teams believe he could be available.”
Woolen notched a Pro Bowl in his first season and has been a reliable starter over the three years since. It would be a bit odd to see the Seahawks trade him given their 3-2 record, but the emergences of Josh Jobe and Derion Kendrick might enable general manager John Schneider to unload Woolen.
Including 2025, Woolen has 11 career interceptions and has surrendered a completion rate of 55.3% and a passer rating of 72.8 in 53 games.
Those numbers would easily be an upgrade over the backups in both Detroit and Baltimore, although with the latter sitting at 1-4, the Ravens are far less likely to make a move for the 26-year-old.
It’s a different ballgame with the Lions, though, as Detroit has legitimate Super Bowl hopes at 4-1 and desperately needs to add some insurance on defense.
Woolen would be one heck of an insurance policy. He would immediately start with Arnold and Reed out, and he would offer top-notch depth once they return.
For the conditional fourth-round pick Knox suggests it’ll cost, Woolen would be a worthwhile addition for the Lions.
