3 reasons Xavier Woods will be a big hit for the Vikings in 2021
By Dean Jones
The Harrison Smith factor
Another reason why Xavier Woods has a good chance of making a big impression on the Vikings next season is the partner alongside him. Harrison Smith might be a little long in the tooth now, but few would argue he isn’t still one of the best playmakers around on the backend.
Smith is the driving force on the Vikings’ defense and he is one of the primary leaders within the locker room. The former Notre Dame star was responsible for Anthony Harris coming of age before moving on to the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. So if he can have a similar impact on Woods, it will stand Minnesota in enormously good stead.
Woods didn’t have anything like the sort of talent Smith possesses at safety next to him during his time with the Cowboys. The pair have skill sets that could complement each other well, although nobody can truly know this for sure until they get on the gridiron in a competitive environment.
Having such an experienced and prolific veteran as Smith to lean on is a significant asset for Woods as he looks to get his career back on track. If the young safety can make the most of this and produce the goods on the field, then it might come with a bigger commitment from the Vikings when things improve from a salary-cap perspective next year.