Both the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens find themselves facing a familiar problem in 2025 — injuries have gutted their depth at cornerback.
Detroit’s secondary has taken major hits, as both starting corners are currently sidelined. Terrion Arnold is battling a shoulder issue, and D.J. Reed is on injured reserve. That’s forced players like Amik Robertson, Rock Ya-Sin, and Avonte Maddox into bigger roles than expected.
Baltimore isn’t in much better shape. Chidobe Awuzie and Marlon Humphrey headline a list of banged-up Ravens defenders, leaving their defensive backfield shorthanded as well.
However, both teams could have an opportunity to strengthen their cornerback units before the NFL trade deadline. One name that’s drawing attention is Riq Woolen of the Seattle Seahawks, a Pro Bowl corner who’s reportedly being monitored by several teams, including Detroit and Baltimore.
According to Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, Woolen could become a valuable trade piece for either franchise. Though he shined as a rookie in 2022 — when he held opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of just 48.7 — he’s struggled to fit into Mike Macdonald’s new defensive scheme. This season, his coverage numbers have dipped, allowing a passer rating of 111.2.
Still, a change of scenery could reignite the talent that made him one of the league’s most promising young corners.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport recently added fuel to the speculation, reporting that with Devon Witherspoon returning to Seattle’s lineup, rival teams are watching Woolen closely as a possible trade option. His snap count has decreased, and with his contract nearing expiration, league insiders believe the Seahawks could be open to moving him.
Woolen earned a Pro Bowl nod in his debut season and has totaled 11 interceptions in 53 career games. He’s limited opponents to a 55.3% completion rate and a 72.8 passer rating during that span — numbers that would represent an immediate boost for either Detroit or Baltimore’s secondary.
If Seattle decides to part ways with him, it would likely be due to the emergence of Josh Jobe and Derion Kendrick, who have started to carve out bigger roles on the roster.
From a competitive standpoint, Baltimore’s 1-4 record makes a midseason move less likely, but the 4-1 Lions are in a completely different position. With real Super Bowl aspirations, Detroit could see Woolen as the perfect defensive insurance policy.
For the conditional fourth-round pick Knox projects as the asking price, this could be an affordable move for Detroit to shore up its injury-depleted secondary. Woolen would not only provide immediate help while Arnold and Reed recover but also give the Lions exceptional depth heading into the postseason push.
