The Philadelphia Eagles have improved to 4-0 after defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Despite the strong start, the Eagles have had issues at their No. 2 cornerback spot. Veteran Adoree' Jackson has been a liability in coverage, while trade acquisition Jakorian Bennett struggled on limited action (24 snaps) before getting injured.
On Sunday, third-year corner Kelee Ringo was given his first start of the season due to Jackson and Bennett being injured. The 23-year-old had his ups and downs, but nothing good enough to instill confidence. As a result, some Eagles fans would still like the team to make another move to solidify the CB2 spot before the trade deadline.
Luckily, there might be a cornerback available for Philadelphia to pursue. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Seattle Seahawks could be looking to move off of struggling cornerback Riq Woolen. This has led some Eagles fans to question whether general manager Howie Roseman will strike a deal for him.
Eagles Must Trade for Seahawks CB Riq Woolen
Grading Ringo's first game as a starter isn't the easiest task. The former Georgia Bulldog had a tough time making tackles in space, recording three missed tackles. Being unable to tackle in space is a huge issue for any cornerback, which is why targeting Woolen makes a ton of sense.
Trading for Woolen could be a massive upgrade for the Eagles' defense as they chase another Super Bowl ring. The 26-year-old is a one-time Pro Bowler and was the co-interception leader in his rookie season in 2022. Moreover, he recorded a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 65.7 or better in each of his first three seasons.
For comparison, Ringo finished Week 4 with a grade of 64.8.
That said, Woolen is struggling this season to the tune of a pass coverage grade of 40.1. He has also shown a propensity to miss tackles throughout his career, missing 39 attempts across his four-year career. Still, his coverage grade has improved with each week this season, and that trend could continue by joining a Super Bowl contender like Philly.
At the end of the day, trading for Woolen would be a low-risk, high-reward move. His stock is low enough so that the Eagles won't have to break the bank, but a bounce-back performance could see him become one of the steals of the season.
If Roseman doesn't at least call to inquire about Woolen, it would be a huge missed opportunity.