Dallas Cowboys: Xavier Woods studying Earl Thomas
Dallas Cowboys second-year safety Xavier Woods is studying the All-Pro veteran many believe could be taking his place soon.
It is believed that All-Pro Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas was nearly made a member of the Dallas Cowboys back in April. During Day Two of the 2018 NFL Draft, it has been rumored that the Cowboys could have had the six-time Pro Bowler in-exchange for their second round selection.
Dallas ultimately opted to keep the pick in order to draft Texas offensive lineman Connor Williams instead. The value for Williams was just too high for the Cowboys, who struggled with offensive line depth in 2017. Dallas apparently was willing to trade their third round pick to Seattle for Thomas, but the Seahawks reportedly never returned their inquiry.
Instead, the Cowboys have done nothing. Actually less than nothing when it comes to their starting free safety position. Not only did Dallas not sign a veteran via free agency or draft a rookie at safety, they actually moved last year’s starter, Byron Jones, to cornerback.
That leaves the Cowboys with only their current roster of safeties to choose from. And out of that inexperienced group, the favorite to start in place of Jones this season is 2017 sixth round selection Xavier Woods.
Last season, Woods spent most of his snaps covering the slot. So the 22-year old is getting a crash course at the free safety position this offseason. Luckily, Woods is in good hands under the tutelage of former Seahawk defensive coordinator and the man at the helm of the Legion of Boom in Seattle, Kris Richard.
Richard joined the Cowboys this offseason as the team’s new defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator. Some believe this is even more of a reason Thomas would be a perfect fit in Dallas. As for Woods, he’ll settle for studying the man many believe should have his starting job.
"“[Earl Thomas is] one of the greatest safeties in this game right now,” Woods told the Dallas Morning News. “Instinctively, his impact on the back end, he’s a playmaker … I pick Coach Richard’s brain about what Earl thinks. We used to watch film together, me and Coach Richard, and just look and see what Earl brings, what is Earl thinking at this point and time on this play.”"
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Kris Richard recently went to bat for Xavier Woods, saying the second-year safety fits the profile of a successful free safety in the NFL due to his intelligence, quickness and ball skills. If Richard truly believes that, the Dallas Cowboys may figure they already have a much younger, less expensive version of a future star at safety in-house.