NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Dallas Cowboys: 3 Players to watch vs. 49ers in Preseason Week 1

By Randy Gurzi

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 12: Amari Cooper #19 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with teammates after scoring a 29 yard touchdown in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 12: Amari Cooper #19 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with teammates after scoring a 29 yard touchdown in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 05: Xavier Woods #25 of the Dallas Cowboys and Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboys combine to take down Dion Lewis #33 of the Tennessee Titans in the third quarter of a football game at AT&T Stadium on November 5, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 05: Xavier Woods #25 of the Dallas Cowboys and Leighton Vander Esch #55 of the Dallas Cowboys combine to take down Dion Lewis #33 of the Tennessee Titans in the third quarter of a football game at AT&T Stadium on November 5, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

2. Xavier Woods, Safety

Throughout the past two offseasons, the Dallas Cowboys have been connected to safety Earl Thomas. Ever since the All-Pro ran up to Jason Garrett following a Cowboys loss to the Seattle Seahawks and said “come get me,” fans were dreaming of a pairing between Dallas and the Texas native.

This never came to fruition as Thomas’ asking price was too steep and he ended up heading to the Baltimore Ravens instead. However, if you were to ask current safety Xavier Woods, there was never a reason to go after anyone because he can provide whatever it is the team needs, and he had no problem telling the owner of the team as much.

More from NFL Spin Zone

"“I think he’s going to be one of the best safeties. When we were talking safeties (before the) draft … I’d run into him and he said, ‘Why are you so worried about safety? Got me back there. Why is everybody worried about a safety? I can do it.'” — Jerry Jones on Woods, via Jon Machota of The Athletic"

Woods, a former sixth-round pick out of Louisiana Tech has done well the past two seasons in the league and really started to show flashes at the end of the 2018 season. He’s parlayed that into a good camp and has made several interceptions already.

Dallas has been without a real ballhawk in their secondary for years, so Woods early success in camp is worth noting. Saturday will be the first chance he gets to show off his skills in a game this year, and due to the team’s attempts to replace him, that’s worth tuning in for.

Home/Dallas Cowboys