A surprising team with a hot start and NFC heavyweights among five NFL teams that should closely monitoring Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen amid trade rumors

The Detroit Lions

The Lions should be dreaming big after a strong start this season. But attrition, the same culprit that taxed their roster so badly down the stretch last year, is at it again. The Lions secondary has seen injuries spring up for both veteran cornerback D.J. Reed and young starter Terrion Arnold.

"It sounds like Reed’s injury will potentially cost him some time. We’ll get more information on that likely on Monday or Wednesday. The same applies to Arnold’s, although it seems the Lions don’t consider that a major issue...As for the Lions’ roster, they have Amik Robertson, who played quite well on the outside last year and even in this game, although he allowed a 35-yard catch the moment he took over. Rock Ya-Sin has been a starter before here and there, and Avonte Maddox can play anywhere in the secondary...The Lions don’t have any corners on their practice squad, so it wouldn’t be a shock if they tried out some players this week or maybe made a phone call or two."

— Mike Payton, A to Z Sports

The downside to Detroit as a suitor is that they exist as a fellow contender in the NFC, adjacent to Seattle — but that's a common thread among many of the potential best fits.

The Indianapolis Colts

There should be a lot of excitement for the Colts' start this season. But performances like Puka Nacua's in Week 4 could be a bucket of cold water to be thrown on this emerging fire. Xavien Howard simply isn't going to cut it.

"Woolen has unreal size at 6-4 and has incredible speed for the CB position. He seems like a perfect fit for Lou Anarumo’s defense, and he clearly needs a change of scenery. His trade value appears to be at an all-time low, and so the Colts would be wise to take a shot on the former Pro Bowler who is still only 26 years old. There’s certainly a risk that he doesn’t pan out, but the Colts already know Howard is a liability. Why not take a high upside swing on a player who is much more likely to return to his peak play?"

— Destin Adams, A to Z Sports

The Las Vegas Raiders

Maxx Crosby can only do so much on his own . He terrorized the Bears in Week 4 but it wasn't enough as Chicago blocked a potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation. This is a team under Pete Carroll that is trying to get things rolling. Carroll was brought in to build the program.

And Woolen knows a little something about buying in to the program under Carroll. In 2022, when Carroll was still the head coach, Woolen finished the season with six interceptions as a rookie and made the Pro Bowl. With the Raiders having a clear need for some talent on the defensive side of the football and the aspirations of getting better as this season unfolds, Woolen could be a good buy-low opportunity thanks to his expiring contract at the end of the season.

Few teams will have better intel on what kind of extension to potentially offer him than Las Vegas, thanks to Carroll.

The Los Angeles Rams

We all know Les Snead isn't afraid of burning a draft pick or two if he thinks he's got the roster to make a run. Woolen won't cost anywhere near what some of his prior trade deadline deals have, either. The Seahawks, of course, would likely be keen on charging a premium price here on account of their status as competing teams for the NFC West. But the Rams are a team that should be shopping for a cornerback —  they can make a legitimate run but need more answers in case they run into A.J. Brown and the Eagles again . Cobie Durant has become a good player in that secondary and nickel Quentin Lake has been a delight as well. But former first-round draft choice Emmanuel Forbes has struggled greatly through nearly 200 defensive snaps. Opposing quarterbacks are posting a perfect 158.3 pass rating on targets against him in coverage.

They need another cornerback and the familiarity could breed some interest.

The Philadelphia Eagles

This is exactly the kind of sicko move that Howie Roseman would make.

"Oh, the rest of the NFC is knocking on the door for a potential upgrade at corner? Well, he's either going to play for them or play for us!"

The Eagles could accommodate Woolen on a short-term rental via his rookie contract and then potentially let him walk in free agency after the year, setting the stage for the Eagles to potentially recoup a compensatory pick in 2027 for their efforts. This is a process for good teams to keep the machine well-fed with draft picks and Philadelphia is among the best in that regard. They do have a potential need at corner opposite Quinyon Mitchell when playing in nickel with Cooper DeJean playing in the slot.

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