2022 Raiders Draft Prospect: CB Tariq Woolen

2022 Raiders Draft Prospect
Name: Tariq Woolen
Position: Cornerback
School: UT-San Antonio
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 205 pounds
Stats

Coverage

At the next level, Woolen profiles as a player that can either plan press or man. He maintains the spatial awareness to operate in a zone. On the other hand, he brings that feisty disposition to the line of scrimmage. The jam sees Woolen maintain that press within those five yards and disrupt routes. On in-breaking routes, he will attempt to undercut the pattern, looking to make the picks. However, the double move plays upon that overaggression, at times.

Ball Skills

A former wideout during his stay as a Roadrunner, the prospect displays a feel for the ball in the air. On height alone, the ability to highpoint and effect 50/50 balls becomes tilted in his favor. On torso-high and lower throws, Woolen could finetune the knock away and ability to see the ball to his hands. While he’s a former receiver, he does need to use those hands to secure more interceptions.

Athleticism

Now, there are two ways to look at this prospect, game film, and workouts. Woolen should test well. For him, that’s more of a confirmation and less of a validation. In contrast, the video speaks the same tune, but you can visualize it. Woolen is hyperathletic with the long speed and quicks to play either corner or safety.

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Tackling

Despite playing corner for only two seasons, the prospect appears willing and able to make the stop. Not to mention the tackle radius. With his reach, especially in space, Woolen can make the stop, if he remembers the technique and engages his lower half, with his momentum going forward will serve him well.

Raiders Need

When Patrick Graham arrived, he brought a plan with him. First and foremost, he brought a new focus to the secondary. By hiring Chris Ash as the secondary coach, Graham sees his plan through. What he sees in that position room remains a mess. Trayvon Mullen enters a year where the doubters’ whispers evolved into all-out screams. What kind of player is he? Originally touted as a shutdown corner, his Raiders’ tenure tells a much different story.

Raiders Fit

On the other side, questions exist as to who can man that spot. Casey Hayward is a Cover 3 corner, so that may not jibe with the new scheme. Furthermore, do you really want to gamble on a corner on the other side of 30, playing at a consistently good level? Meanwhile, Woolen sits that later on Day Two as a potential starter. Granted, his technique needs refinement, and the proverbial rough edges smoothed. Yet, his athletic palette and physical gifts should jump on the Raiders’ radar. With serious, very serious coaching and drill work, Woolen could eventually find his way into the starting lineup. When he does find his way onto the field in a subpackage, the Raiders will have a versatile chess piece that can stay with receivers or tight ends, based on his arm length.