The 49ers could be in the market to acquire Seattle's former first-round pick Riq Woolen this offseason.
The San Francisco 49ers don’t have many glaring holes heading into the 2026 offseason, but their secondary remains a clear area in need of reinforcement.
After losing Charvarius Ward in free agency last year, San Francisco attempted to stabilize the cornerback position with a mix of veterans and youth.
While the unit competed, it lacked a true tone-setter on the outside, someone offenses had to actively game-plan around.
Riq Woolen is introduced into the conversation, as noted by Bleacher Report's Alex Kay in his recent article on the best team fits for 2026 free agents.
Fresh off a championship run with the Seattle Seahawks, Woolen is projected to be one of the most coveted defensive backs on the 2026 market.
At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds with elite long speed, he offers a rare athletic profile that immediately stands out.
His combination of length, recovery burst, and fluidity in space allows him to match up with bigger receivers while still carrying vertical threats downfield.
For a 49ers defense searching for a fortified CB1, that skill set is exactly what’s missing.
San Francisco returns much of its cornerback room, but no one firmly seized the mantle as the unquestioned top option in 2025.
Deommodore Lenoir remains a reliable piece and is locked into a long-term deal, yet the defense still needs a dynamic presence capable of tilting coverage schemes and creating turnovers.
Woolen has done that consistently throughout his career, posting 12 interceptions and 53 pass breakups across 64 games.
His postseason performance during Seattle’s Super Bowl LX run only strengthened his value.
Targeted 17 times over three playoff games, Woolen allowed just eight completions for 168 yards while recording four pass breakups.
His speed and closing ability showed up repeatedly in critical moments, erasing windows that appeared open and forcing quarterbacks to hesitate.
That type of athleticism could provide an immediate boost to San Francisco’s cornerback room.
Defensive coordinators covet corners who can survive on an island, freeing up safety help for creative blitz packages and disguised coverages.
Woolen’s stride-for-stride speed and ability to contest at the catch point would allow the 49ers to play more aggressively up front, something that has long defined their defensive identity.
A projected four-year, $55 million contract won’t come cheap, especially with significant money already allocated across the roster, but championship-caliber teams don’t shy away from bold moves.
Adding Woolen wouldn’t just strengthen the secondary; it would signal that the 49ers are committed to restoring their defense as a dominant force.
If San Francisco wants a true CB1 to emerge and anchor the back end for years to come, Riq Woolen may be the perfect answer.