The Philadelphia Eagles’ secondary seems to be in a position for a big addition this offseason, as the fanbase and media continue to want to improve.
In a free-agency prediction piece, FanSided’s Cris Landers connected the Eagles to Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen, naming Philadelphia as the landing spot for the defensive back should he hit the market. Woolen just won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks, but he was in trade rumors throughout the year.
“Woolen can have a maddening lack of discipline at times, but he is fierce, fast and physical on the outside, and his traits at 6-foot-4 don't come around very often. The upside here is through the roof, which makes him feel like a perfect fit for the Eagles – a front office that loves getting the most out of big-time athletes and just happens to have a need at CB2 opposite Quinyon Mitchell,” he wrote.
At 6-foot-4 with elite athleticism, Woolen fits the prototype of the long and athletic corners the Eagles and Howie Roseman love. Pairing him with Quinyon Mitchell, who has been a huge piece in the Eagles’ secondary, would be fun to watch if Woolen can get back to what he was during the very early stages of his career.
From a roster construction standpoint, the Eagles should focus more on offensive upgrades, but getting better on the other side of the football isn’t a bad thing either. Adding a player with Woolen’s caliber could give Philadelphia a star if he’s as good as he can be.
Landers spoke about the inconsistencies that have been an issue at times with Woolen’s game, which is why we saw him in trade rumors just a few months ago. He’s far from the player he was as a rookie. Those issues can be an issue for the Eagles and the defense they’ve built.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s system, built on knowing your role and playing smart, could either be a blessing or a disaster for Woolen.
The move makes a lot of sense depending on the price, but the Seahawks also might want to run the same team back and keep Woolen around.