Skip to main content
All Seahawks

With Jarran Reed's Departure Imminent, Seahawks Re-Sign Veteran DT Al Woods

Set to join the Seahawks for the third time, Woods brings much-needed familiarity and experience that the team hopes will help compensate for the expected release of long-time starter Jarran Reed.
Corbin K. Smith|
With Jarran Reed's Departure Imminent, Seahawks Re-Sign Veteran DT Al Woods
With Jarran Reed's Departure Imminent, Seahawks Re-Sign Veteran DT Al Woods

With the Seahawks expected to part ways with long-time starter Jarran Reed, the team will be bringing back another familiar face to help fill the void.

According to the player's agency Sports Trust, Seattle has agreed to terms with veteran nose tackle Al Woods on a one-year contract. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the deal is expected to be worth up to $3 million with a $750,000 signing bonus.

The 34-year old Woods most recently played for the Seahawks during the 2019 season, appearing in 14 games and making five starts in place of a suspended Reed at the beginning of the season. The ex-LSU standout performed well, producing 32 tackles, one sack, and two forced fumbles.

Woods finished the season with a respectable 70.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 37th out of 84 qualified defenders. He received a far better grade in the run defense department, tying with then-teammate Poona Ford (77.7) for the 14th highest grade among 84 defensive tackles.

Unfortunately, Seattle lost Woods for the final two regular season games as well as both of the team's playoff contests, as he received a four-game suspension from the NFL for violating the league's performance-enhancing drugs policy.

Though the Seahawks hoped to re-sign him, Woods wound up agreeing to a one-year deal with the Jaguars last March. But he chose to opt out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic due to family and health concerns and with his contract tolling to 2021, Jacksonville released him earlier this month.

In 10 NFL seasons, Woods has played in 125 games with 48 career starts. The 6-foot-4, 330-pound run stuffer has amassed 204 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks playing for Seattle, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Tampa Bay.

Now gearing up for his third stint with the Seahawks, Woods will likely be utilized as a key reserve behind Ford and returning nose tackle Bryan Mone. After not playing a snap in 2020, it will be interesting to see how much he has left in the tank to help offset Reed's exit.

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations

Published
Corbin K. Smith
CORBIN K. SMITH

Graduating from Manchester College in 2012, Smith began his professional career as a high school Economics teacher in Indianapolis and launched his own NFL website covering the Seahawks as a hobby. After teaching and coaching high school football for five years, he transitioned to a full-time sports reporter in 2017, writing for USA Today's Seahawks Wire while continuing to produce the Legion of 12 podcast. He joined the Arena Group in August 2018 and also currently hosts the daily Locked On Seahawks podcast with Rob Rang and Nick Lee. Away from his coverage of the Seahawks and the NFL, Smith dabbles in standup comedy, is a heavy metal enthusiast and previously performed as lead vocalist for a metal band, and enjoys distance running and weight lifting. A habitual commuter, he resides with his wife Natalia in Colorado and spends extensive time reporting from his second residence in the Pacific Northwest.

Home/Seahawks News