Riq Woolen didn’t arrive in Philadelphia with the kind of contract that usually comes with a player who can tilt a secondary. He got a one-year deal, not a long-term payday. But after a spring full of eye-catching reps at the Jefferson Health Training Complex, the Eagles’ new cornerback has already made a loud first impression.
That showing helped land Woolen at No. 17 in Philadelphia Eagles On SI’s annual top 25 players entering the 2026 season. The ranking was built by the staff at Philadelphia Eagles on Sports Illustrated, with Jeff Kerr, John McMullen and Ed Kracz each submitting ballots.
Players were slotted from 1 through 25, with first place worth one point and 25th worth 25 points. A player who appeared in the top 25 but didn’t receive a vote from one of the three voters was assigned 30 points.
Woolen was steady across the board, coming in at No. 17 on all three ballots.
Spring football only tells you so much, but Woolen looked like the kind of defender who changes the shape of a practice. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, with 4.26 speed and a wingspan compared to a 6-8 player, he can erase a mistake in a hurry. If a throw hung in the air even a beat too long, Woolen closed the gap fast and turned it into an interception or a pass breakup.
That kind of talent is exactly why the Eagles were willing to bet on him. Woolen’s path to Philadelphia started in Seattle, where the Seahawks took him in the fifth round of the 2022 draft after he had converted from wide receiver to cornerback late in his college career. He spent four seasons there, made a Pro Bowl, and won a Super Bowl LX championship.
Even with that resume, Woolen still landed in Philadelphia on a one-year deal, and he acknowledged earlier this spring that the market didn’t break his way.
“For me, the mental game a little bit [is a hurdle]," Woolen said earlier this spring when asked why the bigger deal wasn’t there for him. "Sometimes in my head a little bit, but at the same time, I like to show a lot of passion when I play."
The Eagles have been quick to praise what they’ve seen. Head coach Nick Sirianni and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio both came away impressed during the spring, and Fangio made it clear he was eager to add Woolen once free agency opened.
“I'm excited to have him,” Fangio said. “We looked at him during the middle of the season last year a little bit because they may have been interested in trading him, and we didn't decide to do it and I didn't get too involved in the evaluation. But then when it came free agency time this year and I actually sat down and watched him thoroughly, I was excited for him and kind of surprised that he was one of those guys that didn't get a lot of action for a long-term deal.
“I was thrilled to get him. I think he's going to play [well] for us.”
There were reasons Woolen didn’t get a bigger deal in Seattle. Tackling and occasional lapses in focus were part of the criticism there, the kinds of issues Fangio usually won’t ignore. But the Eagles clearly believe the upside is worth it, especially with Woolen lining up opposite All-Pro Quinyon Mitchell.
That setup also gives Cooper DeJean a chance to play safety in base looks before shifting to the slot in nickel, and on paper, the trio has the look of one of the league’s best cornerback groups.
Mitchell, for one, sees exactly why Woolen has been such an intriguing addition.
“Man, he’s a great player, great talent,” Mitchell said of his new teammate. “I’ve been watching him since his rookie year.
He’s long, he’s athletic. But he wants to get better.
Each and every day, we have conversations about techniques, the receivers. We both just want to push each other to get better.”
Woolen believes the fit could be even bigger than that. He said the group has the confidence to be among the league’s best, and he sees the ceiling as wide open.
“I feel like we can be one of the best secondary groups in the league, and we all are confident about that,” Woolen said. “These guys have showed that with their work.
I showed it with the work I put in. So, being able to to join them, the sky is the limit and I feel like we can be one of the best groups in the NFL."
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