3 Most overlooked Dallas Cowboys in 2020

3. Xavier Woods

The Cowboys have needed an upgrade at safety for a while and this offseason, they hope to have found that. Jeff Heath, who had been starting at strong safety, moved to the Las Vegas Raiders. Heath was a solid stop-gap option and for an undrafted free agent out of Saginaw Valley State, he really did serve the team well.

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Having said that, it’s hard not to consider Ha Ha Clinton-Dix an upgrade. The former Green Bay Packers first-round pick rejoins Mike McCarthy and gives Dallas the ballhawk they have needed on the back end of their defense.

Clinton-Dix isn’t a straight-up replacement for Heath though, as he is more of a centerfield type of safety that will play the free safety role. This means Xavier Woods is likely to move over to Heath’s old spot and he should prove to be a good playmaker in this role.

Woods might not have great size for strong safety at 5-foot-11 and 202 pounds, but he doesn’t play undersized at all. During his days at Louisiana Tech, he was able to deliver his share of punishing hits.

But that’s not where he will be an improvement. Heath had no problem laying into a ball carrier, but his coverage wasn’t at the same level as Woods who is good enough in this area that he has even spent time as a nickel back covering the slot receiver.

In his three seasons with Dallas, Woods has flown under the radar. Continual searches for new safeties keep taking place and he just keeps going about his job. Entering 2020, he has 175 career tackles, 17 pass defenses, five interceptions, and three forced fumbles. He has proven he can make plays and shouldn’t be slept on.