There's no doubt that the Jacksonville Jaguars must fortify their front four this offseason. Defensive tackle, in particular, is in dire need of upgrades. However, other position groups could also use help, including cornerback.
Greg Newsome and Montaric Brown are scheduled to become free agents, so the Jags may have to bring in a corner or two this offseason (depending on who returns). Free agency and the draft will offer a wide array of options, but the front office can already go ahead and rule out one.
The Hawks built a well-rounded defense that lacked big-name players but managed to stymie opposing offenses regardless. Now, one of their most prominent pieces is slated to hit the open market.
Riq Woolen will be on demand after the Seahawks beat the Patriots
The Seahawks outright dominated New England in Super Bowl 60, easily cruising to a 29-13 win. Heck, the game was even more one-sided than the score suggests, as the Patriots scored a touchdown only when the outcome was already decided in the fourth quarter.
Kenneth Walker III rightly was named MVP after toting the rock 27 times for 135 yards, but the Seattle defense is also getting plenty of recognition, and understandably so. The front four registered 17 total pressures and six sacks, but the secondary also did its part, keeping Drake Maye under 300 yards. Moreover, most of that production came late in the game when the Patriots were trying to play catch-up.
For his part, cornerback Riq Woolen didn't have a great game, giving up five completions and one touchdown on five targets. Nevertheless, he should still see his stock go up after the Super Bowl. A fifth-round pick in 2022, the former Texas-San Antonio standout has become a mainstay of the Seattle secondary, registering 12 interceptions and 53 passes defensed the past four seasons.
Sure, Woolen committed the boneheaded penalty against the Rams in the Conference game and didn't look great in the Super Bowl. That said, a couple of moments probably won't overshadow his body of work.
Pro Football Focus had a contract valuation of $45 million on a three-year deal for Woolen. That estimate could vary a little after the Super Bowl, but he'll still be a coveted option for teams in need of cornerback help.
Riq Woolen may not be an option if the Jaguars let Montaric Brown walk in free agency
The Jaguars would surely love to keep Montaric Brown. The 2022 seventh-round pick is coming off a breakout season, and losing him would force the team's brass to either keep Travis Hunter at corner full-time or look for a potential replacement in free agency or the draft.
Keith Abney II would be an enticing alternative in Round 2 of the draft, but the Jags also need to address the pass rush. That's why keeping Brown makes sense, but if he leaves, Riq Woolen might have been their best option in free agency. Heck, he may even be an upgrade. But when you take into account that his price might have gone up after the Super Bowl, general manager James Gladstone may want to scrape his name from its wish list.
The Jaguars will need to find a fix to their cornerback woes. After the Super Bowl, they may want to rule Riq Woolen as a potential solution.