The Bears are 4-2, their starting quarterback is back, and that has them positioned as clear deadline buyers. One name that’s already been floated as a fit is Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen, with ESPN’s Ben Solak pointing to Chicago as the team most likely to pull a deal together.
Solak wrote, “That team might be the Bears, who should be desperate for cornerback help after what they saw the Packers do to Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson Sr. in Week 5,”
Woolen is on a one-year, $12M deal with the Eagles this season. The former fifth-round pick made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, but his career has been marked by both big-time highs and too many rough stretches, which has made teams hesitant to commit to him long term.
He came into the year hoping to rebuild his value in Philadelphia and set himself up for a major extension. That hasn’t gone the way he wanted. The Eagles’ defense has fallen short of expectations, and that leaves Woolen in a tough spot: not enough value to cash in on the open market, and not the return Philadelphia hoped for when it signed him.
For Chicago, the logic is pretty straightforward. The Bears could give the Eagles the draft pick they want, while Woolen would get a chance to boost his stock on a team with playoff aspirations.
The need at corner is real. Jaylon Johnson is going through the worst season of his career, and Tyrique Stevenson has been a liability for several years while also dealing with injuries. Chicago has also been starting fourth-round rookie Malik Muhammad, who has shown flashes but dropped in the draft because of his size, something that can show up in the biggest moments.
Woolen’s size and athleticism would give the Bears a different look. He could rotate with Muhammad, take pressure off the rookie, and help push Stevenson out of the picture. He would also give Chicago insurance if Johnson keeps struggling.
It’s the kind of move that makes sense for both sides.
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