After having to settle for a one-year deal last offseason, Xavier Woods is now getting paid. The safety is signing a three-year deal with the Panthers, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The three-year pact is worth $15.75MM.
The 2017 sixth-round pick evolved into a consistent starter during his time in Dallas, including a 2020 campaign where he finished with 72 tackles in 15 starts. However, the safety didn’t endear himself to Cowboys fans when he admitted that he didn’t play “full speed for 70 plays” following an October 2020 loss to the Browns, comments that proved to be the beginning of the end for Woods in Dallas.
He ended up having to opt for a one-year deal with the Vikings last offseason. During his lone season in Minnesota, Woods collected a career-high 108 tackles to go along with 10 passes defended and three interceptions in 17 starts. He was also the NFL’s only defensive player to play in every one of his team’s defensive snaps last season (per ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter).