Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen made San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall look like a Pro Bowler at the end of Week 1. When 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan needed a big play, he assumed Woolen would be on Pearsall and dialed up a long pass.
Pearsall made a simple hitch move, something that shouldn't affect the coverage of a top cornerback, and he was past Woolen. Quarterback Brock Purdy hit Pearsall for a 45-yard gain, and San Francisco was set up deep in Seattle territory.
But Woolen wasn't done with his awfulness. Later on the drive, instead of easily batting a ball away, he allowed a player you will never hear about again, Jake Tonges, to outmaneuver him, and the tight end caught the go-ahead touchdown pass.
Asante Samuel Jr. could be the Seattle Seahawks replacement for Riq Woolen
If Seattle had any other option, head coach Mike Macdonald might have Riq Woolen take a seat on the bench for the issues he caused the team. But the Seahawks don't have any options currently. Not really. That could change in October.
While cornerback Josh Jobe could replace Woolen on two cornerback sets, the Seahawks often use three CBs, so Jobe needs to be the third. Shaquill Griffin was once a solid corner, but he appears to have lost some speed. Devon Witherspoon is better used at nickelback (and dealing with a knee issue).
These players will probably make up most of the cornerbacks on the Seahawks roster for now, but in October, veteran Asante Samuel, Jr. might become available. Samuel is a free agent and will only turn 26 years old in October, but he has an injury concern.
He had spinal fusion surgery this past offseason, and that is definitely something that will scare most teams away. This is especially true as Samuel has been dealing with his neck problem since he was a child, though the hope is that the surgery will correct the issue. He will have a follow-up CT scan in October, and, assuming everything is clear, he could play soon after.
Samuel was a second-round draft pick for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021, and in four seasons with the team, he had six interceptions and 30 passes broken up. He received good grades in coverage from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) in 2022 and 2023 (he appeared in just four games in 2024).
Is there a risk with signing Asante Samuel Jr.? Absolutely, but he is worth taking a one-year prove-it risk on. He is also a pure outside cornerback and could step in for Riq Woolen immediately. Or perhaps the current Seattle Seahawks cornerback finds himself again and has a great rest of the season.