It’s been a while since the Seahawks had one of the top secondaries in the NFL, but the group they’ve put together going into 2023 certainly looks like a top-five unit on paper. Like their Legion of Boom days, Seattle has a few Pro Bowlers on the back end of their defense, including safeties Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams, as well as a top-five overall draft pick in rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
However, the rock star of the group is second-year cornerback Riq Woolen, a fifth-round draft pick who took the league by storm as a rookie. While he didn’t win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, Woolen’s athleticism and the potential he showed in 2022 makes him one of the best breakout candidates in the sport.
Brian Baldinger at NFL Network agrees. He has named Woolen the No. 1 breakout candidate at his position going into the 2023 season.
2nd-Year NFL CBs that are 'Poised to break out', according to NFLN's @BaldyNFL
1) #Seahawks CB Tariq Woolen
2) #Titans CB Roger McCreary
3) #Cowboys CB DaRon Bland
4) #Seahawks CB Coby Bryant
5) #Browns CB Martin Emerson
6) #Bears CB Kyler Gordon
7) #Rams CB Cobie Durant
8)… pic.twitter.com/zzw71Cm9xv— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 4, 2023
Woolen’s game is still a bit raw as is common for most cornerbacks with his level of experience. Even still, as a rookie he managed to post six interceptions and 16 pass breakups, while only allowing a 51.5% completion rate and just a 48.7 passer rating in coverage. Those are superstar type numbers from a player who still has yet to learn a lot of the finer points of playing his position.
For now DK Metcalf remains the best football player on the team. However, if there’s one guy who has a shot at surpassing him it’s No. 27.
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