49ers Linked to Tairq Woolen as Potential Upgrade in Secondary

The San Francisco 49ers addressed their cornerback room last offseason after losing Charvarius Ward in free agency, but the results were uneven throughout 2025. Veteran additions and rookie contributions helped stabilize stretches of the year, yet the outside corner position remained vulnerable against elite passing attacks.

Heading into 2026, San Francisco is positioned to return most of its secondary intact. Chase Lucas stands as the lone restricted free agent among the group, and continuity will provide some baseline stability. Still, continuity does not necessarily equal improvement.

That’s where Tariq Woolen enters the conversation.

Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay recently identified the 49ers as the best fit for Woolen should he reach the open market, noting that San Francisco could simultaneously strengthen its own defense while weakening an NFC West rival by prying the former Seattle Seahawks standout away.

Woolen’s profile fits what San Francisco has lacked on the perimeter. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, he brings rare length and recovery speed to the boundary. Over 64 career games, he has compiled 12 interceptions and 53 pass breakups, production that underscores both his ball skills and durability. At just 26 years old, he remains firmly in his prime years.

San Francisco’s defensive structure relies heavily on corners who can survive on an island when the front four generates pressure. While Deommodore Lenoir has emerged as a reliable presence — rewarded with a five-year, $88.88 million extension — the depth behind him has not consistently held up against top-tier receivers. Darrell Luter, for example, logged roughly a quarter of defensive snaps in 2025, highlighting how thin the rotation became at times.

Adding Woolen would significantly alter that equation.

A projected four-year, $55 million contract — as Kay suggested — would represent a meaningful but not top-of-market investment. The financial hurdle is real, especially given Lenoir’s deal and other looming roster priorities. However, pairing Lenoir and Woolen on the outside, with Renardo Green and Upton Stout providing rotational and slot flexibility, would immediately elevate the overall ceiling of the secondary.

From a schematic standpoint, Woolen’s length allows him to disrupt vertical routes early, an area where San Francisco struggled in 2025. His ability to close passing windows and convert deflections into turnovers aligns with a defense that thrives on momentum swings created by takeaways.

There is also the divisional dynamic to consider. Removing a proven playmaker from Seattle while reinforcing San Francisco’s own coverage unit would create ripple effects across the NFC West. Divisional games often hinge on one or two explosive plays, and adding a corner with Woolen’s interception history could directly influence those outcomes.

Of course, financial feasibility remains the primary obstacle. The 49ers must weigh investments across the roster, particularly along the defensive line and offensive depth. But if the front office believes the secondary needs a true impact piece rather than incremental improvement, Woolen represents one of the most logical targets available.

San Francisco may not be desperate at cornerback. But they are not yet dominant there either. And in a conference loaded with elite quarterbacks, marginal upgrades rarely suffice.

If the 49ers are serious about tightening the only consistently soft area of their defense, pursuing Tariq Woolen would be a decisive move rather than a cosmetic one.