Bears linked to Tariq Woolen as trade rumors heat up |
Dustin Riese
· · 9 hours ago
Although Week five is an earlier Bye Week than what most teams would like to have, it couldn't have come at a better time for the Chicago Bears. This is a team that is riding high, as they have secured back-to-back wins for the first time in Ben Johnson's tenure, including a dramatic come-from-behind win last season that was sealed by a Josh Blackwell blocked field goal.
What makes this early Bye week so crucial for the Bears is that they have a lot of things to sort out and tons of injuries they are trying to maneuver through. T.J. Edwards is one of their biggest losses right now, but from all accounts, he could be ready to go when the Bears return from the Bye week, if not shortly after. However, one player who remains on the IR and has his season in question is All-Pro cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who underwent surgery on his injured Groin in September. While the initial reports are unclear regarding his timeline, unless the Bears make the playoffs this season, it appears that he could be lost for the season. That is a massive blow for the Bears and the defense as a whole, as Johnson is by far the team's best defender. With his absence, other players on the defense have been forced to step up, with Tyrique Stevenson and Kevin Byard showing up in key spots all season. That wasn't something you could say last season, so to see that happen now certainly gives the Bears hope for the future. Even with internal help stepping up, you have to wonder how long that will continue, as the Bears may be forced to look to the trade market for additional help. If that is the case, why not pursue a Pro Bowl-caliber player, such as Riq Woolen, who is now available on the market? Currently with the Seattle Seahawks, the 26-year-old Woolen is a former Pro Bowl-caliber corner who possesses excellent size and speed. Although nothing has been made official by the Seahawks as of yet, multiple reports indicate that Seattle is indeed shopping Woolen. If that is the case, Chicago may want to kick the tires on him to take over for Johnson for the rest of the season. Despite a less-than-appealing start to the season, Woolen has put together a fine NFL career thus far, as he has played a massive role in the Seahawks' secondary success. In 52 games up to this point, Woolen has come away with 11 career interceptions for 58 yards and has even taken one of those picks to the house. His best season came during his rookie year in 2022, when he hauled in six of those 11 picks, including his long Touchdown, which was a 40-yard pick-six. Since that season, Woolen has seen his numbers decrease in terms of turnovers, but has still secured multiple picks in all three of his previous NFL seasons. A significant reason for the uncertain future of Woolen hinges on Devon Witherspoon, who is set to return from his injury this week. He has already seen his playing time diminish, and that trend is likely to continue with Witherspoon's return in the near future. Keep in mind that this is also a contract year for Woolen, so trading for him won't take a ton to get a deal done. At 6-4 and 205 pounds, Woolen is one of the biggest cornerbacks in the game, and that does come in handy when you look at some of today's wide receivers. He also offers 4.26 speed, which is elite speed, as he can match up with any of today's best receivers. Woolen is on an expiring rookie deal, so he has a great deal to play for this year. Woolen’s 2025 cap hit sits around $5.4 million, and Chicago has cap space for that, which is crucial when it comes to making any deal. Going beyond that, Woolen is only 26 years old, so there is the possibility that if the Bears bring him in and play well, they could consider adding him beyond this season on a multi-year deal. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, and it's something the Bears should consider.
