The Detroit Lions have battled a brutal stretch of injuries since last season, and those troubles continue in 2025—especially in the secondary.
After being one of the most injury-riddled teams in 2024, Detroit has seen more misfortune this year. The cornerback unit has been hit hardest, with D.J. Reed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, Terrion Arnold nursing a shoulder issue, and several depth players also sidelined.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Lions are actively exploring trade options to reinforce their cornerback group before the deadline.
That aligns with Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, who recently projected that Detroit could swing a deal with the Seattle Seahawks to acquire Riq Woolen.
“Detroit may be the most desperate team for cornerback help,” Knox noted. “With their secondary decimated, they leaned almost entirely on backups in Week 7. Trading with Seattle makes more sense than dealing with a divisional rival like the Rams or Ravens.”
The Seahawks are reportedly open to moving Woolen, who no longer fits new head coach Mike Macdonald’s defensive system.
NFL insiders Jeremy Fowler (ESPN) and Ian Rapoport (NFL Network) have both reported that Woolen is drawing interest across the league. Rapoport previously stated that Woolen’s playing time had dropped and that multiple teams were “monitoring him closely” as the deadline approaches.
“Seattle has been trying to find a trade partner for some time,” one anonymous executive told Fowler. “He just isn’t an ideal fit for what Macdonald wants to run.”
With Devon Witherspoon healthy and returning to the lineup, Seattle appears ready to listen to offers for Woolen, who’s in the final year of his rookie deal.
The 25-year-old former Pro Bowler has been a reliable starter throughout his career, appearing in 54 games (52 starts) and allowing just 54.5% completions with a 71.6 passer rating against him.
By comparison, Amik Robertson, currently filling in as a starter for Detroit, has given up 61.7% completions and a 98.4 passer rating in his career.
Acquiring Woolen would provide the Lions an immediate upgrade on the outside and valuable depth once Reed and Arnold return. His expiring contract could also benefit Detroit’s tight salary cap situation, giving the team flexibility beyond this season.
A fourth-round pick could be enough to get the deal done — a fair price for a proven defensive back who could play a key role in Detroit’s playoff push and potential Super Bowl run.
