The Tennessee Titans entered the offseason searching for help at safety opposite Amani Hooker. New general manager Mike Borgonzi initially settled on a short-term solution, signing veteran Xavier Woods to a two-year contract in free agency. The dynamic of the room later changed when the Titans selected former Penn State safety Kevin Winston Jr. in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Woods is an experienced, durable workhorse. The former Louisiana Tech standout miraculously played a league-leading 1,218 snaps last season. Woods was on the field for every single Panthers defensive snap. That was appealing to the Titans, who prioritized leadership and availability in free agency.
Woods has been a league-average starter throughout his NFL career. The aging Woods turns 30 in July. In 2024, his Pro Football Focus defensive grade of 57.0 was a career-low mark. He's a temporary solution for a rebuilding Titans defense, and his modest contract ($5 million AAV) reflects that.
Adding Woods certainly didn't prevent the Titans from grabbing Winston. Borgonzi and Chad Brinker were incredibly high on Winston, confirming they had a high second-round grade on the versatile defensive back prior to him suffering a partially torn ACL at Penn State. When the Titans netted a third-round pick in a trade-down with the Seattle Seahawks, they pounced on his availability at No. 82 overall.
Kevin Winston Jr. could replace Xavier Woods in Titans' 2025 lineup
Winston's partially torn ACL was best-case-scenario as far as ACL injuries go. He recovered quickly enough to do some pre-draft testing, running a reported 4.50 40-yard dash at Penn State's pro day. Winston didn't participate physically for the Titans at OTAs or minicamp, but there's hope for upgraded involvement at training camp.
The Titans won't rush Winston onto the field. Woods' presence buys them patience. There'll also be plenty of opportunities for three safety looks, with Hooker, Woods, and Winston sharing the field in Dennard Wilson's defense.
On tape, Winston Jr. is long, rangy, and physical. When healthy, he flashed developing instincts and sideline to sideline speed. Winston is flexible enough to thrive as a tackler and cover-man near the line of scrimmage, but can also play in coverage when required. As the campaign progresses forward, don't be shocked if it's Winston next to Hooker in base personnel.
Woods checked Borgonzi's must-haves in free agency this offseason. He's durable and experienced with strong leadership qualities and will be a positive addition to Brian Callahan's locker room culture reset. Through little fault of his own, Woods must watch over his shoulder for an emerging Winston.