Woods is a roster cut/trade candidate for the Houston Texans, where he is signed for two years and $15.3 million. The Texans signing Stefon Diggs to lead a loaded wide receivers group that includes Tank Dell and Nico Collins may phase out Woods, who the Texans may release to preserve at least $5 million in contract space for the 2024 season.
“The Texans will likely part ways with veteran Robert Woods, who, at this point in his career, is the perfect candidate for this type of job behind Jefferson and Jordan Addison,” Heckman said in a piece published on June 5. “Whether the Texans find a trade partner or he ends up being released, the Vikings should be in on him.”
Woods spent two years in Los Angeles under Kevin O’Connell, including the team’s 2021 Super Bowl title season, before O’Connell resigned to become the Vikings’ head coach. Woods’ five seasons under Sean McVay would make him a great fit for O’Connell’s offence.
At 32 years old, Woods is nearing the end of his career. His performance has fallen since last year, when he had 40 receptions for 426 yards and a touchdown.
However, given his diversified skill set and the Vikings’ plans for the 2024 season, he has the potential to excel as the third wide receiver in the offence.
Robert Woods is an ideal fit for the Vikings’ plans for 2024 offence.
While Woods’ receiving talent has deteriorated, he does not need to be at his peak to assist the Vikings offence undergo a necessary metamorphosis.
For two offseasons, the Vikings have expressed a desire to upgrade their running game, but their best attempts have mainly fallen short, owing in part to personnel.
Aaron Jones is the most important factor in their efforts to improve the run game in 2024, but Woods could also help.
On third down, O’Connell typically deploys 11 personnel (three wide receiver sets), making a pass appear more likely. However, with capable run-blocking receivers, the Vikings can be more effective with a changeup while running.
When Woods signed a four-year, $65 million contract extension with the Rams in 2020, Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger praised Woods’ ability to change the run game with 11 personnel.
But perhaps what Sean McVay likes most about Woods, and what has allowed the Rams to be so productive running the ball out of 11 personnel, is his ability to block runs.
Woods finished 10th in 2018 and 13th in 2019 in run-blocking grade among all wide receivers with at least 50 run-blocking snaps.
Brandin Cooks placed 94th and 105th, respectively.
Cooper Kupp placed 84th and 110th, respectively.
Woods concluded the 2021 season as PFF’s top run-blocking wide receiver. He isn’t going to alter the running game on his own, but he adds another marginal benefit to a team effort and could handle the dirty work better than Addison, who is small as a wide receiver.
Vikings Should Keep Woods in Sight.
Admittedly, highlighting a receiver’s run-blocking abilities is not the most vital aspect of the position.
Woods was the prototype for that type of job with the Rams, as he had 367 receptions for 4,626 yards and 23 touchdowns over five seasons.
Woods’ production has come and gone, but he can still serve as a viable fourth option in the passing game, given that T.J. Hockenson is the offense’s productive No. 2.
While taking on Woods’ deal in a trade with the Texans would not be a wise use of the Vikings’ available cap space, signing him off waivers to a veteran minimum
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