The Jacksonville Jaguars will face a conundrum at cornerback this offseason. While two-way star Travis Hunter will play defense full-time in 2026, Greg Newsome and Montaric Brown are scheduled to become free agents. At least one of them, but may both, will leave, so they'll need to replenish the position in free agency or the draft.
There will be no shortage of cornerback prospects on Day 2 of the draft, but if Jacksonville wants to allocate its draft picks to other needs, the Seattle Seahawks could present an intriguing option in free agency.
The Jaguars should put Riq Woolen at the top of their free-agency wish list
The Jaguars probably won't make many splash signings in free agency because they're dealing with cap constraints. But if they manage to free up enough space and are unable to re-sign Montaric Brown, they should turn their attention to Super Bowl champion Riq Woolen.
Although Woolen was inconsistent last year, he's previously shown playmaking capabilities during his four-year stint with the Seattle Seahawks. Moreover, the 2022 fifth-round pick could benefit from a fresh start.
Ben Solak of ESPN says that it's tricky to evaluate Woolen because he struggled under Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald. On the other hand, he thinks playing in a more simple scheme could be beneficial for him,
"Woolen is a particularly tricky one to calibrate," Solak wrote in a position ranking. "He fell out of favor with Mike Macdonald's defensive staff multiple times in the past two seasons, getting benched for stretches. Yet he also led all cornerbacks in yards per coverage snap allowed (0.6) last season. In a simpler defense that lets Woolen play faster and think less, he might see more consistent and productive play (looking at you, Robert Saleh and the Titans)."
Woolen has appeared in 64 games with 53 stats for the Hawks, registering 12 interceptions and 53 passes defensed. His best season came in 2022 when he racked up six picks and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Pro Football Focus projects him to sign a three-year, $45 million deal if he makes it to free agency.
Unlike last year's batch, teams in need of help at cornerback won't have many options in free agency. However, Woolen would most definitely be an intriguing choice. Brown could also garner plenty of interest despite the fact that he's somewhat flying under the radar.
The Jaguars could turn to Riq Woolen if Montaric Brown leaves
Re-signing Montaric Brown is arguably the best couse of action for the Jaguars. Although he's poised to cash in, he may not command a top-market contract. Moreover, Jacksonville already knows what the former Arkansas Razorback brings to the table, having flourished under Anthony Campanile. Simply put, it makes more sense to go with someone they know.
But if the Jags cannot agree to a deal with Brown, pursuing Riq Woolen would be a viable route. Again, they'll be dealing with a cap cruch, which will limit their ability to sign players in free agency. But that doesn't mean that general manager James Gladstone will be watching from the sidelines.
If the Jaguars believe there's a player that could raise the team's ceiling, they probably won't hesitate to target him. After all, Gladstone showed in his first season leading the front office that he's not afraid to make a bold move if he thinks it will improve the roster.
It's worth noting that cornerback isn't the only need the Jaguars must take care of, but if Montaric Brown leaves, making a run at Riq Woolen shouldn't be out of the question.