What Mike Macdonald said about Riq Woolen at NFL League Meeting

The Seattle Seahawks offense has been generating most of the headlines this offseason, but the defense will likely determine how far the team goes in 2025. Last year, the defense finished just outside of the top 10 in most categories.

This unit should be even better in Year 2 under head coach Mike Macdonald. The Seahawks added veteran edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence to a talented front seven, which should make things easier on the team's young secondary.

Macdonald is expecting big things out of cornerback Riq Woolen in his fourth season. While speaking to reporters at the NFL's Annual League Meeting, Macdonald described why Woolen's play unlocks the entire defense.

"We all know what his strengths are, but when he's at his best, he really unlocks our defense, because he takes away the side of the field," said Macdonald. "We can push coverage away from him, so we're really excited about it, but we have to work together. Him and us as a coaching staff, make it come to life every day and then that's when the best version comes alive."

While that may sound like a lot of pressure to put on Woolen, the former fifth-round pick is full capable of producing at an elite level. In his first three NFL seasons, Woolen has already made a Pro Bowl and recorded 11 interceptions.

Cornerback is considered one of the toughest positions to play at the professional level and even the best players usually take a year or two to find their footing. Woolen just needs to continue to build on what's been an impressive NFL career thus far. If he can do that, the sky is the limit for the Seahawks defense in 2025.

"Riq had a heck of an off-season last year. I'm really excited about him," Macdonald concluded.

Seattle will need the defense to step up early in the season while quarterback Sam Darnold, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and the rest of the team's offseason additions get familiar with one another.

More Seahawks on SI stories