3 free agent safeties the Cowboys should consider signing
123. . . . Xavier Woods. 2. player
There is a chance that the Dallas Cowboys don’t reach into the free-agent market to sign a safety. There is also a chance that the team brings back Xavier Woods, who was the team’s sixth-round draft pick back in 2017.
The entire defense could use something. That may be a premier player, a depth player, or even a young draft pick. Re-signing Woods gives the Cowboys their starter with upside and familiarity without spending top dollar money.
The Cowboys have safety Donovan Wilson on the team, but he is more of a run-stopping safety. He beat-out Woods this past season and became a player to watch.
Dallas still needs their lone coverage safety. Woods could play that role in Quinn’s cover three defense. Yes, he played poorly this past season, but I look at it as a bad season.
The coverage safety has played well since entering the NFL. He made 70+ tackles the past two seasons and has been able to get his hands on the football before 2020.
The Louisiana Tech product picked off four passes while knocking down 14 in 29 games from 2018 to 2019. That dropped to zero interceptions and one batted pass in 2020.
The drop in production from 2019 to 2020 is alarming. That is if the entire defense didn’t have a down year.
Let’s be honest the entire 2020 season was a mess for the Dallas Cowboys. Woods was one of the many players that had a down year. Because of that, he deserves another chance.
Jerry Jones has seen how well Xavier Woods can play. When he is feeling good, he can be a reliable coverage safety. Covering overtop of the cornerbacks was second-nature for him.
The down season can lower the dollars on his contract. Dallas can sign Xavier Woods to a short-term “prove-it” deal.
He will be 26-years-old heading into Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season. There are at least four years of productive play you can squeeze out of him. Woods can return to be the reliable coverage safety he once was.
Bringing him back should not be the only move. Finding a safety with one of their four picks in the first three rounds this upcoming draft is needed. That sets up the position for current and future success.