A respected player on the field and a person off it, Woods was voted one of two Seattle defensive captains in 2022 along with safety Quandre Diggs.

“It feels really good to see that happen for him,” defensive coordinator Clint Hurt said in September after Woods was elected captain. “He’s a man’s man. When you’re talking about someone who has his personal life together, whether it’s as a husband, or as a father, who takes care of his body like a professional, his work habits, his study habits, what? He does for young people. A lot of times you get seasoned young men who stay on their island and for themselves; He brings all the guys in and really tries to help these guys.”

Woods has started 30 games over the past two years, recording a career-high 50 tackles in 2021 and 39 tackles last season, as well as 3.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss over those two seasons. And while those numbers are undoubtedly impressive for a player who has spent most of his time on the nose, Woods’ influence on defense far exceeds his stats.

“It’s an honest, thankless job,” Hurt said last year. “But the guys who know they’ve got a lot of success playing behind him, they know how important he is. His job is to take on two big guys, weigh 600 pounds between him, and control two guys, so the players behind him can make tackles and not have to deal with blockers and headers.” And he’ll do it every time he’s there, never complain, want no credit. As long as he helps us win, that’s what he’s always about. So, the definition of unselfishness.”

Woods’ release continues what has been a major overhaul for the defensive line this offseason. The Seahawks released Shelby Harris and Quinton Jefferson last week, and added in free agency defensive ends Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed.