Is Xavier Woods A starting caliber Safety?

[darthseinfeld]

Where do you stand on whether or not Xavier Woods is a starting caliber NFL Safety

 

[StevenOtero]

At 5' 11" and 181lbs, he's basically a Slot Corner.

 

[John813]

Starting caliber has a large range in the NFL, from elite to average

Sure, but definitely upgradable.

At 5' 11" and 181lbs, he's basically a Slot Corner.

FWIW NFL.com and DC.com have him at 202-208lb

 

[ClappingCarrot]

The jury is still out on Xavier.

I want to see how he looks in a scheme that isn't archaic.

 

[WillieBeamen]

Hell No


He sucks. He has horrible ball skills and is too small

 

[darthseinfeld]

No for me. I think he could a good Jordan Babineaux type S/CB that plays in subpackages. But I don't think he does anything well enough to be an starting NFL Safety. A poor tackler with limited range is not a player you want starting on the back end

 

[darthseinfeld]

The jury is still out on Xavier.

I want to see how he looks in a scheme that isn't archaic.

He has started for 2 years now. He is what he is

 

[CouchCoach]

I want to see him in a different D with a different DC. If they don't go for a replacement early in the draft, trade or get a FA, that will tell you what Nolan, Harris and Linguist think about him.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Hell No


He sucks. He has horrible ball skills and is too small

He looked like one of the dumbest players on our defense at times last year. Regressed from 2018, where he was at least passable.

 

[glimmerman]

Woods and Heath will have there chances in TC. Hoping we have some options in camp this year.

 

[darthseinfeld]

At 5' 11" and 181lbs, he's basically a Slot Corner.

My take on him is that he is more a DB than an actual Safety. I think you take him out of the starting lineup and put him in Dime and some Nickle packages, then he offers you more as a player

 

[darthseinfeld]

Woods and Heath will have there chances in TC. Hoping we have some options in camp this year.

Heath is a FA, and they have been actively trying to replace him

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

So this is my view of him.

We have a bunch of holes. We don’t have enough resource to fill those holes. So then I have to ask myself is he good enough to start? Is he good enough for me to possibly put a playmaker next to him and will it raise his level? He’s cheap and he was one of the few guys who made plays for our secondary.

Im keeping him.

 

[OmerV]

Starting caliber has a large range in the NFL, from elite to average

Sure, but definitely upgradable.



FWIW NFL.com and DC.com have him at 202-208lb

This. A lot of fans tend to look only at the extremes when judging players, but most fall somewhere in the middle. A lot of players are reasonable starters as long as they fit with an overall quality team, but that doesn't mean an upgrade wouldn't be a plus.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Heath is a FA, and they have been actively trying to replace him

If he’s cheap he very well could be brought back. But I’d have to think they can find another Heath....

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I think he has a role in the secondary as a quality nickel and package player.

I think you get diminishing returns on him the longer you keep trotting him out there as a starter expecting him to be a reliable tackler in the run game, et cetera.

 

[glimmerman]

Heath is a FA, and they have been actively trying to replace him

I wonder if they offer him a contract.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I think he has a role in the secondary as a quality nickel and package player.

I think you get diminishing returns on him the longer you keep trotting him out there as a starter expecting him to be a reliable tackler in the run game, et cetera.

Exactly. He has combo of some CB skills, particularly the slot where he has good short area quickness, as well as Safety skills.

However he just doesnt have the full skill set at either position

 

[darthseinfeld]

If he’s cheap he very well could be brought back. But I’d have to think they can find another Heath....

I wonder if they offer him a contract.

Personally I dont see it. Heath was the reason they scouted Safeties so heavily last draft, as well as tried to trade for Adams. I think they are set on moving on

 

[conner01]

Keeping a heath or giving a woods a shot at starting is not really the same thing as either being your starter without other options
Many mention woods as slot cb/ safety
Not sure he’s any sort of cb
I don’t think there is a safety on the roster I’d name starter but I’d give woods a shot at competing with a draft choice
If heath was affordable I’d bring him back as depth and ST
If kinlaw is not there at 17 we have a shot at a solid safety though probably strong safety
But from what I’ve read on Nolan that guy is not so much a in the box run stopper as a disrupter who is used on blitzes a lot
The free safety seems to be back all alone so you need a smart, athletic guy who can cover some field
Not sure woods fits that but he will get a shot but should have competition