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Former Chargers DB JT Woods hopes to revive career in Saints tryout
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- Former Chargers DB JT Woods hopes to revive career in Saints tryout
Safety JT Woods is one of a handful of veterans trying to jump-start their NFL careers at the New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp this weekend. The camp is Thursday May 7 through Saturday May 9 and is for 2026 draft choices, signed undrafted free agents, and other undrafted rookies invited on a tryout basis, as well as select veterans. Other notable vets that were invited by the Saints are kicker Younghoe Koo , quarterback Easton Stick , and quarterback Kyle Trask .
New Orleans has a solid trio of safeties in Julian Blackmon , Justin Reid , and Jonas Sanker . However, Jordan Howden and Terrell Burgess are anything but confidence inspiring through the rest of the depth chart. Burgess played under Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley with the Rams in 2020. In that respect, he shares something in common with JT Woods.
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Remember that JT Woods had a strong collegiate career with the Baylor Bears . As a junior in 2020 he had 3 interceptions and 46 tackles in nine games. Woods was even better in 2021, leading the entire NCAA with 6 interceptions while recording 4.5 tackles for loss among his 57 total stops. Over those last two years, Woods averaged an eye-popping 22.3 yards on his 9 interceptions.
In the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Woods was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers with the 79th overall choice. At the time, Brandon Staley was the head coach of the Chargers. Unfortunately, Woods was never able to achieve the same big-play success in the NFL. He'd appear in 10 games as a rookie, making one start, but recorded only three tackles and played in only 5% (31) of the team's defensive snaps. Early into the 2023 season, Woods was placed on the non-football injury list and would appear in only three games during the year with little impact. It would be the last time JT Woods has played in a regular season contest.
Woods was released by the Chargers at the end of the 2024 preseason. In the two years since, he's been on either the preseason or practice squad rosters of the Eagles, Bears, Seahawks , Raiders, and Jets but has not been active for a single regular season game.
At 6-feet, 2 inches and 195 pounds, Woods is a lean safety with good athletic ability. Now reunited with his first NFL coach in Staley, Woods has a chance to save his NFL career. To do so, he'll have to flash the same ball skills he did at Baylor while also making an impact on special teams. He'll have his opportunity at the Saints rookie minicamp this weekend, hoping to show enough where New Orleans signs Woods to a contract to compete in training camp.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Former Chargers DB JT Woods hopes to revive career in Saints tryout
