By most accounts the Seahawks have gotten strong grades for their moves in the NFL’s 2023 free agency period. Not everyone is satisfied, though. A small but vocal contingent of Seattle fans on Twitter are apoplectic about the team releasing nose tackle Al Woods, who was their best run defender last season.
Apparently Pro Football Focus agrees with them. In a new article listing their favorite and least-favorite moves for each team in free agency, they picked cutting Woods as their least-favorite for Seattle.
“Sure, Woods will be 36 years old in Week 1, but his run-defense grades in each of the last five seasons were all above 65.0, and his cumulative 79.0 mark over the stretch is in the top 20 of all interior defenders. With Poona Ford also remaining unsigned, Seattle could stand to add a run-stuffer on the interior.”
Woods did good work against the run. However, he just turned 36 years old and what this defense needs most is pass rushing, which is not his expertise. In his 12 years in the NFL, Woods has never posted more than two sacks or five QB hits in a season. Whoever they choose to replace him with will have to be more productive when it comes to getting pressure on the quarterback.
