3 reasons Xavier Woods will be a big hit for the Vikings in 2021
By Dean Jones
Woods’ urgency
Nobody will know about what’s at stake in 2021 more than Xavier Woods. Players tend to get a pass for one down year of production if they’ve accumulated a good body of work before that, but another campaign of inconsistency might leave his future prospects of being a starter incredibly slim.
This added sense of urgency should be all Woods needs. There is no more margin for error for a guy who worked hard to emerge from a late-round pick to a successful starter, so he won’t want all this dedication wasted.
Woods seems like he’ll fit in well with the Vikings. This is a defense that now has the right blend of youth and experience in a bid to get themselves back to being one of the dominant units of years gone by. If the safety can play his part, it will not only offset the loss of Anthony Harris, but it might even come with an upgrade considering how much the former Minnesota safety regressed down the stretch last season.
What comes next will ultimately be down to Woods. His problems in coverage for the Cowboys last season were there for all to see and any further complications will see him shown the door by Mike Zimmer once his contract is up next year.
Big things are expected of Minnesota’s defensive in 2021 thanks to some eye-catching arrivals all over the field. Woods was the missing piece to the puzzle on the backend and it would be a huge surprise if he didn’t thrive with so much at stake on a personal level.