One of the biggest concerns through the first month of the regular season for the Detroit Lions has been the play of second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold. After a so-so rookie season, many Lions fans were hoping for Arnold to take that next step forward in 2025.
However, that has not been the case for the young cornerback. Opposing offenses have picked on Arnold, as he has given up 241 yards and two touchdowns on 16 completions through the first three weeks.
Despite his struggles, Detroit fans aren’t ready to give up on the youngster, but the Lions might want to at least inquire about Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen, who has emerged as a potential trade candidate.
Lions GM Brad Holmes Should Have Riq Woolen on His Radar Ahead of Trade Deadline
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, teams are monitoring Woolen’s availability as a potential trade target. Rapoport adds that the Pro Bowl defender’s playing time has diminished, and with it being a contract year, teams believe he could be available.
Now, on the surface, the idea of adding a Pro Bowl defender to the secondary to play opposite of D.J. Reed is tantalizing, given the Lions’ goal of making a deep playoff run. However, most Detroit fans would tell you that they would rather have another pass rusher, as their defensive end depth is hanging on by a thread.
But with Woolen set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, maybe the price won’t be super high for the Seattle defender.
This season, Woolen has allowed 152 yards on 11 completions (18 targets), a touchdown, and a 106.7 pass rating in four games. When Lions fans see those numbers from Woolen, they might say to themselves that the team is better off trying to fix the issues with Arnold.
However, a change of scenery could help Woolen, who is a major presence at 6-foot-4. He can hold his own in man coverage and run with most wide receivers in the league. Looking at the Lions’ CB depth, they have a lot of vets (Avonte Maddox and Rock Ya-Sin), but they don’t have an athlete like Woolen.
Again, Detroit would love to see Arnold turn his sophomore season around quickly, with the help of Reed and Amik Robertson. The team would be foolish to just give up right now on a player they invested first-round capital into just a year ago. But if he continues to struggle over the next 2-3 games, Detroit might have no choice but to submit an inquiry to Seattle.