Free Agents - Cap Space - who stays, who's gone

[Donn Beach]

He was asked by a Philadelphia reporter, what went into the decision to move on from Woolen. Sure, MM could have answered with some euphemisms about going in a different direction bla bla bla but he didn't do that. He corrected the reporters use of the phrase, moving on. There was nothing about the situation that required MM to do that. It would have been a perfectly acceptable phrase given the situation. For me that indicates truthfulness rather than BS. Woolen had his issues but I have no reason not to believe he was well liked by his teammates and coaching staff

Seattle still has $30.045 million in effective cap space for 2026 (which accounts for the incoming draft class), per Over The Cap, meaning they could have afforded Woolen's deal with the Eagles. Macdonald's answer is likely accounting for their future plans that haven't been completed yet, which is why it appears that way currently

Woolen's cap hit for the Eagles is only $3.408 million in 2026, as Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman tacked four void years onto the one-year deal.

That requires the Eagles to take on dead money, however, which could hamper them in future seasons.

The Seahawks still have to get an extension done for Witherspoon, and that could eat up 2026 cap if it's structured similarly to how general manager John Schneider did Jaxon Smith-Njigba's record four-year, $168.6 million deal.

Additionally, Seattle is already projected to be in the bottom-10 in available cap space heading into 2027, per Over The Cap, which means a multi-year deal for Woolen would've been more challenging to get done. Woolen likely wouldn't have taken a one-year deal with the Seahawks after already playing four seasons there and helping them win a

[Donn Beach]

I think the deal with Woolen was he didn't really fit the roster. I think he actually priced himself out of being a depth piece which is what he would have been with the seahawks. He wasn't going to re-sign on a one year contract, he wasn't going to give the seahawks that Eagles deal. I think that's what MM was getting at when he said they couldn't afford him. They are going to try and find a more budget friendly depth piece

Riq Woolen's exit is helping make Seahawks draft plans crystal clear

The Seattle Seahawks' "Dark Side" defense took a big toll early in free agency. Coby Bryant left to join the Chicago Bears, and -- perhaps more importantly -- Riq Woolen took his talents to Philadelphia to sign with the Eagles.

The Seahawks should do just fine without Bryant, given their depth at the position. Replacing Woolen, however, might be a tougher task, even if he was a starter in only seven of the 16 regular-season games he played last season.

As things stand now, Josh Jobe and Devon Witherspoon will be the starters, with newcomer Noah Igbinoghene as Nick Emmanwori's backup in the slot when he's not lined up at safety or linebacker. That leaves this team with a glaring need to add another cornerback in the NFL Draft.

https://12thmanrising.com/riq-woolen-ex ... stal-clear

[trharder]

I think the deal with Woolen was he didn't really fit the roster. I think he actually priced himself out of being a depth piece which is what he would have been with the seahawks. He wasn't going to re-sign on a one year contract, he wasn't going to give the seahawks that Eagles deal. I think that's what MM was getting at when he said they couldn't afford him. They are going to try and find a more budget friendly depth piece

So, not a "great player". A back-up.
You may be right, his pride wouldn't let him sign a one-year deal with Seattle, but he did sign a one-year
deal. Because that was all he could get. Because the league fears he's a head case.

Woolen may take off and be great with Philly. Of course, I said the same thing for DK.

[Donn Beach]

I don't know if they do it for that one year deal. They signed Igbinoghene for like a $1.5 mil one year deal. I think JS is strict about his cap. For the role Woolen would perform they look for a guy on a first contact. Woolen is talented but yeah, there's issues so he got a one year deal. Woolens issues played a role in his getting a one year deal with the Eagles where it seems he should be starting but really they probably didn't with the seahawks.

In an alternate reality he is more consistent and the seahawks sign him long term as a starter. But still it turns on the cap numbers.