The Philadelphia Eagles are poised to deliver a devastating blow to the rest of the NFC East, and the warning sirens should already be blaring in Dallas, New York, and Washington.
CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles, in his breakdown of the top upcoming free agents, has confidently connected the dots: the Eagles are making a serious push for Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen this offseason, and the fit feels inevitable.
Philadelphia already boasts one of the league’s brightest young cornerback duos. First-round rookie Quinyon Mitchell has locked down one outside spot, while second-round gem Cooper DeJean has taken over the nickel role with authority.
The missing piece? A legitimate, high-upside outside corner to line up opposite Mitchell. Last season, injuries and inconsistent play from Adoree’ Jackson, Kelee Ringo, and Jakorian Bennett exposed that weakness far too often.
Enter Tariq Woolen—a 6’4”, rangy, Pro Bowl ballhawk who once led the entire NFL with six interceptions as a rookie. Drafted in the fifth round of 2022 on a modest $3.9 million rookie deal, Woolen immediately proved he was one of the
biggest steals in recent memory. Seattle considered trading him at one point but held on through their Super Bowl run. With no extension offered before or during the 2025 season, the 26-year-old is now set to hit unrestricted free agency—and Philadelphia is ready to pounce.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, a master at maximizing length and ball skills in coverage, would unlock Woolen’s full potential. Pairing him with Mitchell and DeJean would instantly create one of the youngest,
most talented secondaries in football. While some mock drafts have the Eagles targeting corners like Avieon Terrell in the first round, a proven commodity like Woolen offers day-one impact without the rookie learning curve.
For a division that already struggles to keep pace with Philadelphia’s offense, the prospect of facing an upgraded Eagles secondary featuring three elite young corners coached by Fangio should be downright terrifying.
The missile is locked, loaded, and pointed straight at the NFC East. Tariq Woolen is coming to Philly.
