Seattle Seahawks insider thinks gifted cornerback is on 'thin ice' as 2025 NFL offseason approaches

There's still two games left to play this season for the Seattle Seahawks. However, realistic fans are already looking forward to the offseason, when general manager John Schneider will have some serious work to do. Our best guess is that this team will finish the 2024 campaign with a 9-8 record, which would be the third-straight season that they end the year with that mark.

Recurring mediocrity is why the Seahawks got rid of former head coach Pete Carroll, and the front office won't be satisfied with more nine-win seasons. So, what does Schneider need to do to turn this dynamic around? The first, second and third priorities have to be improving an offensive line that's been a liability every single year either Schneider or Carroll have had roster control.

On the other side of the ball, Seattle will probably need to address the cornerback room first, even though it seemed like a strength only a couple months ago. Devon Witherspoon has the slot spot locked down and Josh Jobe looks like a strong option on the left boundary, but Tre Brown appears to be on his way out and Riq Woolen is seriously struggling as the 2024 season comes to a close - and not for the first time in his career.

Things have gotten so bad for Woolen that Seahawks insider and ESPN radio host Brock Huard believes he could be on thin ice.

Brock Huard on Riq Woolen

“Woolen’s getting killed for the final play, and I certainly got on Tariq Woolen (last week). He certainly didn’t start this game for team issues and I think he’s on thin ice anyway from just the stuff beyond the X’s and O’s..."

Woolen was held out of the starting lineup for the opening possession against the Minnesota Vikings, but head coach Mike Macdonald would not reveal why, and Woolen would not answer questions about the benching when he was asked. Regardless of the reason, it's clear the Seahawks are not thrilled with how Woolen has behaved off the field and they can't be happy with what he's done on it.

Woolen has appeared in 13 games for Seattle this season and statistically it's been his worst year in coverage. While his completion rate allowed is still relatively low at 55%, he has given up five touchdowns and an 87.6 passer rating, up eight points from last season and almost 40 points from his rookie year.

Heading into the offseason the Seahawks have a tough call to make regarding Woolen's future. He's entering the final year of his rookie contract, which is about when most promising young corners like this would be getting a lucrative new long-term deal. That seems like an unlikely scenario given his issues in 2024 - but it's also a stretch to think they might trade him given how talented he is. The best path forward may be allowing Woolen to play out the last year of his contract and then re-evaluating what to do with him.

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