The New York Jets made a bold pivot in 2025, leaning all the way into a rebuild that saw them ship out two of their cornerstone defenders-Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner. The Gardner move, in particular, turned heads. Trading away a young All-Pro cornerback isn’t something you do lightly, but when the return includes two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, it’s the kind of deal that can reshape a franchise.
But with Gardner now suiting up for the Colts, the Jets are staring down a major void on the outside. They’ve got some intriguing pieces in the secondary, but let’s be real-if this defense is going to take a step forward under new coordinator Aaron Glenn, they need a top-tier corner to anchor the back end.
Enter Tariq Woolen.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen recently pegged the Jets as the best fit for the polarizing Seattle Seahawks cornerback, and it’s easy to see why. At 6-foot-5 with elite speed and rare physical tools, Woolen brings a unique skill set that would mesh well with Glenn’s aggressive, press-heavy scheme. The Jets gave up 57 completions of 20-plus yards last season-seventh-most in the league-and that’s simply too many explosive plays for a defense that wants to be among the NFL’s elite.
Woolen’s résumé is a mixed bag, but the highs are tantalizing. He’s racked up 12 interceptions and 53 pass breakups over the past four seasons, showcasing the kind of ball skills and closing speed that can flip a game in one play.
He’s not just fast-he’s recover-instantly-after-a-mistake fast. And with his size, he can body up just about any receiver in the league.
Of course, the consistency hasn’t always been there. Take the NFC Championship Game against the Rams as a prime example.
Woolen got caught up in the moment, taunting the sideline after what should’ve been a fourth-down stop-only to hand LA a first down. On the very next play, he gave up a long touchdown.
That kind of sequence is the stuff that keeps coaches up at night.
Still, there’s no denying the upside. Woolen played a key role in Seattle’s Super Bowl 60 run, helping lead a defense that suffocated opponents when it mattered most. That experience, combined with his physical gifts, makes him one of the more intriguing free agents on the market-especially for a team like the Jets, who are trying to build a new identity on defense post-Gardner.
For Glenn and the Jets, this isn’t just about plugging a hole. It’s about finding a new cornerstone.
Woolen may not be a perfect player, but in the right system-with the right coaching-he has the tools to become a game-changer. If New York is serious about turning the page and building a defense that can contend in the AFC, targeting a player like Woolen could be a major step in the right direction.