By Moses Joshua 
Detroit eyes Pro Bowl cornerback Riq Woolen to stabilize battered secondary ahead of playoff push.
The Detroit Lions enter the second half of the 2025 NFL season as one of the NFC’s most dangerous teams — but even contenders can only absorb so many injuries before cracks start to show. For Detroit, those cracks have appeared in their secondary, and the front office may be preparing a bold move to fix it.
According to multiple reports, including one from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Lions are actively exploring trade options to reinforce their cornerback group before the Nov. 4 deadline. And one name is emerging as a realistic and potentially transformative target: Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen.
Detroit’s Secondary Running Thin
Few NFL teams have battled injury woes quite like the Lions over the past two seasons. After enduring a wave of setbacks in 2024, the trend has unfortunately continued in 2025.
Starting cornerback D.J. Reed is on injured reserve with a nagging hamstring issue, while Terrion Arnold — one of Detroit’s top young defenders — has been sidelined with a shoulder injury. Even the backups haven’t been spared, forcing defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard to rely heavily on practice-squad elevations and special teamers in recent weeks.
With the team’s Super Bowl aspirations very much alive, Detroit can’t afford to stand pat. Bleacher Report analyst Kristopher Knox predicts that the Lions will swing a deal with Seattle to land Woolen — a 2022 Pro Bowl selection who has quietly fallen out of favor with the Seahawks’ new coaching staff.
“Detroit might be the team most desperate to add a corner, given the rash of injuries in its secondary,” Knox wrote. “The Lions, who were on bye in Week 8, are also more sensible trade partners for the Seahawks than the Rams or Ravens.”
Why Riq Woolen Fits Detroit’s Plans
At first glance, trading for a player of Woolen’s caliber seems ambitious. Yet, according to multiple league insiders, including ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Seahawks are “open for business” on the 25-year-old defender.
“They’ve been wanting to move him for a while,” an anonymous executive told ESPN. “He doesn’t fit what [head coach Mike Macdonald] wants to do.”
Rapoport echoed that sentiment, reporting that teams have been “monitoring Pro Bowl CB Riq Woolen as a possible trade target” since early September. With Devon Witherspoon returning to the lineup and Woolen’s snap count decreasing, the Seahawks may be motivated to move him before losing him in free agency.
For Detroit, Woolen represents both a short-term solution and a perfect financial fit. His rookie contract expires after this season — meaning the Lions can bolster their secondary now without committing long-term money, which is key given their upcoming cap constraints.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Statistically, Woolen remains an above-average starting corner. Over 54 career games (52 starts), he’s allowed a completion rate of just 54.5% and a 71.6 passer rating when targeted. That’s a stark improvement over current fill-in Amik Robertson, who has surrendered a 61.7% completion rate and 98.4 passer rating in his career.
A potential price tag? Analysts believe a fourth-round pick might get the deal done — a reasonable cost for a playoff contender in dire need of help on the perimeter.
Final Word: The Time to Act Is Now
The Lions have come too far to let injuries derail another promising campaign. With their offense firing on all cylinders and their defensive front ranked among the league’s best, upgrading the secondary could be the final piece of the puzzle.
Riq Woolen’s mix of length, speed, and experience make him an ideal fit for Dan Campbell’s aggressive defense — and a much-needed stabilizer for a cornerback room held together by duct tape.
If general manager Brad Holmes wants to keep Detroit’s Super Bowl dreams alive, a call to Seattle might be the move that defines the Lions’ 2025 season.