It's hard being a failed LA Chargers draft pick. Former third-round pick Tre' McKitty was unceremoniously shown the door by the Cleveland Browns weeks ago and now, one of his former teammates is suffering the exact same fate.
The Seattle Seahawks officially waived JT Woods after re-signing veteran cornerback Shaquill Griffin before the weekend. Woods signed a futures/reserve contract with the Seahawks in January after spending the 2025 season split between the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears practice squads.
This comes less than one full year after Woods was waived by the Chargers. The new Chargers regime cut ties with Woods in late August as the team was trimming the roster down to 53 players. Now, his NFL future is at risk.
JT Woods may be out of the NFL three years after the Chargers drafted him in the third round
It's unfortunate that Woods didn't pan out for the Chargers and now, it appears as if his days in the NFL are over. While anything can happen, it's hard to imagine Woods finding a spot in the league given the circumstances.
Woods has been cut from three different practice squads over the last calendar year and has not gotten a single chance to prove himself in an NFL game. That is because of the holes in his game, which Chargers fans are more than aware of from his time with the Bolts.
The Chargers reached for Woods in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft because of his intangibles. In theory, defensive-minded head coach Brandon Staley would develop Woods into a well-rounded safety who could tap into his natural athleticism.
Instead, Woods never put it together for the Chargers. Jim Harbaugh and new GM Joe Hortiz took the first chance they got to cut bait with Woods just two seasons into his NFL career. That is how poorly he was playing for the Chargers.
Woods' only chance to remain in the NFL may be with a familiar face. Staley now finds himself as the defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints with former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as his head coach. Because of the familiarity, the Saints could take a flier on him in training camp.
Regardless, Woods is yet another reminder of how poorly the Chargers drafted for so many years under former GM Tom Telesco. Between he and McKitty, the Chargers completely whiffed on two of the team's three third-round picks in a two-year span.