EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings are welcoming Xavier Woods to the fold.
Minnesota agreed to terms with the safety Monday, the team announced.
Originally a sixth-round draft pick by Dallas in 2017, Woods has spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Cowboys. He's started 48 of 60 games played. In that time, he's totaled 243 tackles (league stats), five interceptions, four tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, 18 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Woods joins a Vikings safeties group led by All-Pro Harrison Smith.
View photos of new Vikings S Xavier Woods who recently joined the team.
Here are five things to know about Woods:
1. Former Bulldog
Woods played in 53 games and totaled 14 interceptions in four seasons for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.
As a senior, he recorded 89 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions and six passes defensed. When Woods graduated, his 325 career interception return yards were the most in Louisiana Tech history.
2. High school state champ
Woods attended West Monroe High School (Louisiana), where he initially started as a wide receiver before transitioning to defensive back as a sophomore. That year, he intercepted six passes and returned two of them for scores.
As a junior, Woods helped lead the Rebels to a state championship. He received All-State, All-Northeast Louisiana and All-District honors as a senior.
Other notable West Monroe alumni include four-time Pro Bowl tackle Andrew Whitworth.
3. Louisiana native
Woods hails from Monroe, Louisiana, which is just 30 minutes east of the Louisiana Tech campus.
He is one of four Louisiana natives currently on the Vikings roster, joining wide receiver Justin Jefferson (St. Rose), tight end Irv Smith, Jr. (New Orleans) and cornerback Cam Dantzler (Hammond).
4. Committed to his community
Woods annually holds a Thanksgiving turkey drive in his hometown of Monroe. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, he made sure the event still could be safely held in order to provide food to those in need.
5. Family of 4
Woods and his wife, Destiny, are proud parents of two daughters, Dallas-Karsyn and Zailyn-Karter.
