The Chicago Bears already got a step ahead of their NFC North rivals ahead of the trade deadline when they flipped two 1st round picks to the Tennessee Titans for star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. General manager Ryan Poles picked the perfect moment to go on the offensive after years of more measured moves. Now it’s looking like he might be shifting to defense. What does that mean? In front-office terms, it involves trading for a player that one of your rivals is interested in. The player involved in this subterfuge is Tariq Woolen.
It isn’t a secret that the Bears could use some help at cornerback. Jaylon Johnson is having the worst season of his career. Tyrique Stevenson hasn’t been much better. Malik Muhammad is a rookie and dealing with turf toe. Kyler Gordon has suddenly become their best corner almost by default. They badly need another option in the mix. Woolen has all the physical tools Dennis Allen and Al Harris prefer: 6’4″ size, length, and blinding speed. Philadelphia Eagles reporter Thomas Petersen is hearing that the soon-to-be free agent corner is the target for both the Bears and Detroit Lions.
Tariq Woolen is a gamble.
There is no denying the talent. He was superb as a rookie in 2022, grabbing 6 interceptions. From there, he became a core member of one of the NFL’s best defenses in Seattle, never allowing a passer rating above 80.0 in any of his four seasons and helping them win the Super Bowl last year. Signing him was an easy choice from the Eagles’ perspective. Unfortunately, things haven’t gone well. Through 8 games, Woolen has allowed 401 yards and 3 touchdowns for a 111.4 passer rating.
The cornerback has a reputation for being somewhat mercurial. His talent has flashed plenty of times this season, but the lack of consistency is the bigger concern. Do the Bears think they can get him straightened out? If they do, they would be getting a blue-chip talent at a position of need. It isn’t hard to see why Detroit wants him. They have the 32nd-ranked pass defense in the NFL. Their 5-2 record is mostly credited to their offense. They know hopes for a Super Bowl run rest on their ability to stop the top QBs in the NFC.
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It makes sense why the Bears would want to keep them in that position.
Dealing with Howie Roseman will be tricky.
The Eagles’ general manager is notorious for being dangerous as a trade negotiator. He’s finagled some wild compensation for players that had no business costing that much. The good news is that Poles has experience working with Roseman. The two have struck two trades together since 2022. The first involved defensive end Robert Quinn, and the other was switching spots in the 1st round of the 2023 draft. Poles got a 4th round pick in each of those deals. That provides hope that he understands not to let Roseman pull him beyond a certain point.
Given the struggles this season and his expiring contract, it is a safe assumption that the Bears believe Tariq Woolen is worth somewhere around a 5th round pick. That is usually the going rate for such players. No doubt Rosemean will hope to push that to a 4th. Pitting them against the Lions is certainly a proven way to create the necessary tension. Give us this much and you won’t have to see him in Honolulu blue on Thanksgiving. Will it work? We’ll know within the next four days.
