With Long Term Questions at Cornerback, Seahawks Need to Pluck One Early in 2025 NFL Draft
While most pundits have the Seattle Seahawks' biggest needs heading into the 2025 NFL Draft as offensive and defensive lines, and rightfully so, there is one looming need that simply isn’t being talked about enough.
In the short term, cornerback stands out as a position of strength for Seattle heading into 2025. Former top-five pick Devon Witherspoon is the alpha, having started his NFL career with back-to-back Pro Bowls. He is well on his way to becoming one of the better cornerbacks in the entire NFL, if he isn't there already.
The former No. 5 overall pick is a true weapon in Mike Macdonald's defense. Witherspoon bounced around the defense more than he did in his rookie year, logging at least 150 snaps at three different spots (boundary corner, slot corner, and down in the box) according to Pro Football Focus charting.
Opposite of Witherspoon, Riq Woolen will return for his fourth season with the Seahawks. After bursting onto the scene with a Pro Bowl rookie campaign in 2022, including producing an NFL-high six interceptions, he has had two underwhelming seasons since. While his tackling improved somewhat last year, his coverage marks declined. The jury is still very much out on the soon-to-be 26-year old.
The elephant in the cornerback room is that Woolen's rookie deal is expiring after the 2025 season. This is a critical year for the former UTSA standout. Is he more the player that was a ball-hawking Pro Bowler in his rookie year? Or is he the player, while oozing with physical traits any coach would dream of in a cornerback, that cannot put together a full season of solid tackling and coverage fundamentals?
It would behoove Woolen and the Seahawks if those questions can be answered this fall.
What's more is Woolen is not the only corner set to be a free agent next spring. The recently re-signed Josh Jobe, who filled in nicely last year after coming on board as a practice squad signing in September, is on a one-year deal. He worked his way into becoming Seattle's other boundary corner opposite Woolen while Witherspoon bounced around, though coach Mike Macdonald wasn’t committal to him starting again during the annual NFL meetings last month.
As far as additions go, Shemar Jean-Charles also signed a one-year deal to add depth, helping offset the exits of Tre Brown and Artie Burns in free agency.
All this to say, Seattle has major depth concerns at cornerback beyond this season. After 2025, only Witherspoon and Nehemiah Pritchett would be under contract among any cornerbacks with game experience for the Seahawks.
Unless there is an extension looming for Woolen soon, the need at cornerback is much more urgent than it appears for general manager John Schneider and the front office to attack. The Seahawks need to find a possible partner in crime to pair with Witherspoon if Woolen were to walk at the end of the 2025 season.
The good news? This draft class has plenty of viable options. Seattle should not wait until Day 3 to add to their cornerback crop and take advantage of the talent available in the first three rounds.
If the Seahawks are looking to find a Woolen replacement with similar physical traits, ECU's Shavon Revel - who will meet with the team for an official 30 visit later this month - or Iowa State's Darien Porter fit the mold. They are both long, athletic corners oozing with upside.
Other corners likely available on Day 2 include talented defenders such as Azareye'h Thomas out of Florida State and Virginia Tech's Dorian Strong, two productive all-around players who excelled against strong ACC competition.
Schneider, like any good general manager, is looking at the draft with 2026 and beyond in mind just as he is for the immediate needs of the 2025 squad.
And as he and his front office peers should know, the Seahawks need to exit the draft with at least one more cornerback. While they don't necessarily need to use their first round pick on one, they need to nab one of the more polished prospects in case he is pressed into duty early with Woolen’s status beyond 2025 remaining very much up in the air.
