3 big ways Xavier Woods can help the Carolina Panthers in 2022
By Dean Jones
How can free-agent signing Xavier Woods help the Carolina Panthers after the safety arrived from the Minnesota Vikings?
The Carolina Panthers got their hands on a talented safety to strengthen their secondary when terms were agreed with Xavier Woods. According to Ian Rappaport of the NFL Network, the player penned a three-year, $15.75 million deal and was their second signing of the day after Super Bowl-winning offensive lineman Austin Corbett joined from the Los Angeles Rams.
Woods bet on himself in a big way by leaving the Dallas Cowboys after a down season in 2020 to rejuvenate his career with the Minnesota Vikings. Paying alongside a potential Pro Football Hall of Famer in Harrison Smith certainly helped, which has given the player’s career a new lease of life.
Finding a partner for Jeremy Chinn on the backend was one of the Panthers‘ top priorities this offseason. Although there is a chance the former second-round pick won’t be around much longer if he ends up being part of a deal that brings Deshaun Watson to Carolina.
Either way, Woods is a solid pickup. Here are three big ways he can help the Panthers in 2022 and possibly beyond.
Big Way No. 1
Xavier Woods brings a strong work ethic to the Carolina Panthers
Things could have gone either way for Xavier Woods after a disastrous final season with the Dallas Cowboys that put his career prospects right on the brink. Linking up with a defensive head coach in Mike Zimmer and a stud such as Harrison Smith helped a lot, but the player also deserves a significant amount of credit for fighting back in the face of adversity.
This mindset is something that can help the Carolina Panthers. Things tailed off mentally for the organization in 2021, which also brought a real lack of accountability from veteran pieces who should know better.
Woods’ talent will help on the field. But don’t underestimate the impact he could make in the locker room, either.