Dallas Cowboys: 2017 Rookie Review

Xavier Woods, S

One player many Dallas Cowboys fans were excited for the team to select in last year’s draft was Xavier Woods, and he, like his other rookie defensive backfield counterparts, showed abilities to be a staple in the unit for quite some time.

In 16 games played his rookie season (four starts), Woods — who was drafted in the sixth round — totaled 42 tackles (33 solo) with three passes defensed and one interception. For a sixth-round selection, Woods played above his 191st overall selection, and the Cowboys had a steal at this spot.

As the season continued, Woods improved his play. The first five weeks of his career, Woods totaled six tackles and one pass defensed. Following a bye in Week 6, Woods from Week 7 to the end of the season saw him gain eight games of at least two tackles, and he had two passes defensed in Week 9 against the Kansas City Chiefs and Week 10 against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons game also saw Woods have his lone interception of the season.

Like mentioned with the other defensive rookies, it will take time and patience for Woods to really make his mark on the defensive back roster for the Cowboys, but he showed in 16 games last season that he is very capable of contributing to the overall defensive improvement.