Al Woods ‘ third Seattle Seahawks stint is over. The team announced the release of the veteran nose tackle on Monday. Woods has been a regular starter during this latest Seattle run.
The Seahawks continue to make changes on their defensive line. They have moved on from Quinton Jefferson and Shelby Harris, and the team has signed Dre’Mont Jones and brought back Jarran Reed. The Woods cut saves $3.67M in cap space, moving the team near $15M.
Woods’ third Seattle stay lasted two seasons, and the mammoth D-tackle started 30 games for the team during that stretch. The former fourth-round New Orleans Saints pick, however, played for the Seahawks during the 2011 and 2019 seasons as well. Overall, the LSU product has enjoyed quite a run for himself. Woods, who will turn 36 on Saturday, has played 155 career games.
Generously listed at 330 pounds, Woods has patrolled the middle of a few teams’ defensive lines during his 13-season career. He has played for the Saints, Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars. Woods opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, and the Jaguars moved on early in Urban Meyer‘s tenure. But the Seahawks gave him another opportunity soon after.
The Seahawks made Woods a defensive captain last season, and Pro Football Focus ranked him 32nd among interior D-linemen during the team’s surprise journey to the playoffs. Woods played on 39% of Seattle’s defensive snaps last season. While that was down from his 52% snap rate in 2021, the team prioritized his return—on a two-year, $9M deal—despite new DC Clint Hurtt bringing a scheme change from Ken Norton Jr.‘s tenure.
Woods totaled 39 tackles (five for loss) and a forced fumble last season. He began the year on a good note, helping Seattle thwart two Denver goal-to-go situations in what turned out to be a pivotal win for playoff-qualification purposes. But Woods will be one of the parts being shipped out as Jones and Reed enter the equation. He could well have the opportunity to continue his career in 2023.
Woods, Harris and Jefferson are gone, and Poona Ford remains unsigned. Seattle still has four-year contributor Bryan Mone on its offseason roster, but its D-line room is undoubtedly unfinished as the second week of free agency starts.
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