Picturing Charles Woodson in the Seahawks’ secondary

By Brady Henderson

Seahawks general manager John Schneider was part of the Packers’ front office when Green Bay signed free-agent defensive back Charles Woodson back in 2006.

Woodson

That connection is worth noting now that Woodson is again a free agent and Schneider’s Seahawks could be looking to add to their secondary.

Woodson was released Friday by the cash-strapped Packers, who apparently couldn’t stomach the idea of paying $9 million next season to a player with advancing age and diminishing durability. Woodson missed nine games last season due to a broken collarbone. But even at 36, the consensus is that he could still help a team, perhaps in a part-time role.

“To me, he’s a 20-play player anymore. He’s going to give you 20 good ones,” ESPN’s Herm Edwards told “Brock and Salk”
on Friday.

Edwards, a former NFL defensive back himself, thinks Woodson is best suited at this stage of his career to be a nickelback. He moved from cornerback to safety last season.

“I think he’s an inside guy. You don’t want to put him outside anymore,” Edwards said. “You’ll want to put him in there and let him play some safety, you blitz him some, he’s going to cover the tight end, those are the things he’s going to do. He’s got great instincts and awareness, and he’s got good leadership qualities.”

Marcus Trufant, Seattle’s primary nickelback last season, will be a free agent. Younger cornerbacks Jeremy Lane and Byron Maxwell also saw time in that role last season.

The video below includes additional thoughts from Mike Salk and Brock Huard on Woodson and the Seahawks.

You can listen to Friday’s show here.