No team in the NFL may be as blessed as the Seahawks are at the cornerback position. Last year they spent a fifth overall pick on Illinois corner Devon Witherspoon, who came into the league a fully-formed superstar. The previous year they landed a gem in the fifth round of the draft in Riq Woolen out of UTSA.
While most accounts have Woolen’s second season as being a disappointment, he played well enough to earn himself a sizable bonus. Yesterday the league announced the performance-based pay distributions for players around the NFL from last season and Woolen earned $839,154 which was the 10th most in the league.
Like his rookie year, Woolen continued to do strong work in coverage in 2023, earning a 75.0 overall grade from PFF and posting two interceptions and a 79.8 passer rating allowed. However, he got poor marks for his run defense (37.3) and missed nine tackle attempts (14.5%). Woolen was even benched at one point in favor of Mike Jackson.
If he wants to hang onto that right boundary spot in the long run, Woolen will have to show more willingness to help out in run D and put his nose in there to make tackles. However, he has all the physical tools he needs to be an All-Pro in the future, the same as Witherspoon.
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