The Bucs head into the offseason with a number of query marks within the secondary, with cornerback being the most important. Basic supervisor Jason Licht understandably didn’t decide to cornerback Jamel Dean’s future in Tampa Bay on the 2025 NFL Mix and mentioned the workforce would “evaluate the landscape” when deciding whether or not Dean might be again subsequent season.
If he’s traded or launched, immediately the room has only one starting-caliber cornerback in Zyon McCollum. Licht may all the time dip into free company or draft one other nook within the 2025 NFL Draft, however what if he acquired a promising younger participant on the commerce market to pair with McCollum for years to return?
Seahawks CB Riq Woolen Is An Intriguing Commerce Candidate For The Bucs
Seahawks CB Riq Woolen – Picture by: USA Right now
Drafted simply 4 spots earlier than Zyon McCollum was chosen by the Bucs within the 2022 NFL Draft, Woolen burst onto the scene in his rookie 12 months. The 6-foot-4 cornerback instantly seemed to be the following Richard Sherman, however the workforce may look to maneuver on from him after he has not made fairly the identical impression since.
Nonetheless productive, Woolen’s interception totals dropped to 2 in 2023 and three in 2024. Tampa Bay’s secondary would nonetheless welcome that manufacturing, and his 25 passes defended over the previous two seasons level to how he retains his nostril across the soccer. Along with his slot in head coach Mike Macdonald’s protection coming into query, Professional Soccer Community lately outlined him as somebody Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles could be intrigued to accumulate.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a reasonably regular perimeter cornerback duo of Zyon McCollum and Dean final season. Nonetheless, Dean has had a tricky time staying on the sphere and has missed a number of video games in all six seasons (together with a career-high 5 video games missed final 12 months).
Seahawks CB Riq Woolen – Picture by: USA Right now
Ought to the Bucs select to commerce Dean and save just a little over $8 million in cap area, one various could possibly be buying Seahawks nook Riq Woolen in his place. Woolen is within the final 12 months of his rookie contract and set to depend $5.3 million in opposition to the cap for Seattle.
Nonetheless, Woolen wasn’t the cleanest match with Mike Macdonald. He allowed a career-high 5 touchdowns in protection and noticed his yards per completion rise from 9.4 in 2023 to 11.1 in 2024. Two years in the past, the Bucs and Seahawks had far more comparable protection tendencies, and Woolen ranked fifth within the league with 5.4 yards per goal allowed.
He nonetheless has loads of promise, so though a commerce value wouldn’t be exorbitant with just one 12 months of workforce management, Woolen would seemingly require a Day 2 choose. On the very least, the Seahawks would seemingly require the Bucs to match what the Chiefs acquired for L’Jarius Sneed (who was already off his rookie contract and on the franchise tag). In that deal, the Titans gave up a third-rounder two years out.
Bucs Would Have To Make investments In Riq Woolen, However It Might Pay Off Handsomely
Bucs CB Zyon McCollum – Picture by: USA Right now
Because the above situation particulars, a possible commerce for Riq Woolen seemingly means sacrificing a third-round choose in a future draft and lengthening him afterward. It comes with some danger with the Bucs already having to increase Zyon McCollum earlier than subsequent offseason. Buying and selling for Woolen would solely put extra stress on the entrance workplace to safe its key items, particularly when they don’t like shedding out on the possibility to draft them to start with.
The payoff although?
Locking up the cornerback place with two uber-athletic, long-term items.
Todd Bowles is keen on McCollum and has overseen his improvement from a backup to a No. 1 cornerback. Woolen is equally athletic and would instantly give Bowles two rangy gamers on reverse sides which are robust matches in his zone protection scheme. Turning 26 years outdated earlier than subsequent season, Woolen’s finest soccer is probably going forward of him and his interception complete has the possibility to rise again to its 2022 ranges.
The Bucs may all the time look so as to add a veteran nook in free company or discover one other diamond within the tough within the NFL Draft, however getting a recognized commodity able to plug in and play has the possibility to repay handsomely.
Would you wish to see a commerce for Riq Woolen occur? Depart your ideas within the feedback under.
