There's been very little information given about the progress of both Ennis Rakestraw's and Terrion Arnold's respective injuries suffered this past season. It's expected that both will be competing for starting spots in the Detroit Lions' secondary, but their injury woes and injury history make them a bit of a risk to rely upon to open up an important 2026 season.
Enter free agency. Detroit doesn't have a ton of money to throw around just yet as they presumably make some cuts, and trades, ahead of the new year. But, once they do, there's one target that NFL site Pro Football Sports Network could see becoming a reality for the Lions: Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen.
"Detroit’s secondary needs help; no more excuses. Tariq Woolen thrived in press-man and Cover 3 earlier in his career and still graded well in 2025 (81.7 CB Impact Score, No. 27 overall). His length and athleticism make him an ideal addition to a defense in need of reinforcements."
Lions pushed to sign Woolen in free agency in latest projections
Woolen was a potential trade target for the Lions back during the 2025 season, although no official rumblings were reported. He was simply one of the better targets that had been reportedly made available before the deadline.
On the back of both Arnold and Rakestraw being such huge question marks for their health in 2026, it would be incredible to have Woolen on board in place of either or depending on their recovery timeline. Woolen posted 12 passes defended through 16 games played for Seattle this regular season, and he's currently a rotational piece on a NFC Championship-bound team.
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Per Spotrac, Woolen is due about 4 years and $62.7 million on his next deal, which would put him at an average salary of about $15 million. That puts his payday on par with D.J. Reed's, the Lions' big swing free agent signing from before the 2025 season. Woolen would be a reliable addition to Detroit's defense as they look to rebuild following the potential loss of Amik Robertson in free agency.
Other key signings that remain for Detroit include one that probably felt unlikely to begin the year, and one that just feels like a natural continuation of their current depth: Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox. Neither should be knocking the Lions on their butts in terms of asking price, which could open the door for a Woolen pitch.