Now that Seattle Seahawks first-year cornerback Tariq Woolen is justifiably in the discussion for Defensive Rookie of the Year, we can go back and wonder why it was that Woolen lasted until the fifth round of the 2022 draft out of the University of Texas-San Antonio. Some NFL shot-callers believed Woolen to be too raw in coverage, and some questioned his strength of competition.
1,135 snaps, 38 receptions on 68 targets for 549 yards, 207 yards after the catch, five touchdowns, six interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 70.0 later, nobody is wondering about Woolen’s NFL potential.
And the 4.26 40-yard dash speed Woolen put up at the 2022 scouting combine has showed up more than once this season with Woolen’s ungodly recovery speed in coverage. Woolen showed it off once again with 10:19 left in the first quarter of Seattle’s Saturday wild-card game against the San Francisco 49ers.
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy tried to get the ball deep to receiver Jauan Jennings, and Woolen just wasn’t having it. This despite getting baked a bit on the route. When you can play catchup to this degree, you can erase a lot of mistakes.
Tariq Woolen’s recovery speed is FOR REAL 😳 pic.twitter.com/XUdMXt9L2b
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) January 14, 2023
Not the first time this season that Woolen has shocked an opposing offense with his downfield speed.
