It’s no secret that the cornerback position is one of extreme importance in the NFL, just as it’s no secret that the Dallas Cowboys don’t currently have a reliable solution. Dallas has, on paper, the framework to be good there. DaRon Bland was a First-Team All-Pro in 2023 and finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The club also drafted Shavon Revel in last year’s third round; a move many considered a steal as Revel showed first-round talent before tearing his ACL.
But Bland has dealt with foot injuries the last two years and Revel had a setback in training camp and a lackluster debut season in 2025. The team can’t feel confident it has what is necessary at the position to return to the playoffs, even with a new defensive coordinator in Christian Parker. The Cowboys will likely look to draft a new corner and sign one in free agency, and it’d be great if the latter didn’t require a large investment.
Enter Riq Woolen, currently of the world champion Seattle Seahawks, at least for the next month. Woolen is set to enter free agency this offseason after being pseudo benched in the Pacific Northwest but still maintaining heavy rotational usage in the No. 1 scoring defense.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently identified his top 50 free agents for 2026, ranking Woolen 10th and flagging the Cowboys as one of his most sensible suitors.
Contract Projection: Three Years, $24 Million
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen was the topic of trade speculation before the in-season deadline but stuck with Seattle through its Super Bowl run. He had a critical taunting penalty during the NFC Championship Game but also logged eight tackles and four passes defended in the postseason.
During the regular season, Woolen logged 12 passes defended in 16 games while allowing an opposing passer rating of only 75.5 in coverage. In four campaigns with the Seahawks, the 26-year-old has never allowed an opposing passer rating above 80.0 in a season.
While consistency isn’t Woolen’s strongest suit, he’s a quality starter overall. With a 6’4″ frame and proven ball skills, he’ll appeal to teams that can tolerate the occasional lapse for a high ceiling.
Woolen has recorded 53 pass breakups and 12 interceptions in 64 career games.
Potential Suitors: Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys
For that price, the Cowboys could easily afford to build out the rest of their defense, which is riddled with roster holes.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys projected as free-agent suitor for Seahawks CB Riq Woolen
