JT Woods embracing position change as safety transitions to cornerback

The Chargers drafted JT Woods in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft in hopes of him being a play-making deep safety.

That did not materialize, however.

Now, Woods is taking on the cornerback position, with the new coaching staff hoping it will unlock his true potential.

“They wanted to try me out to see how I felt and how I looked,” Woods said about playing cornerback. “I felt pretty good.”

Woods moved to the position last week and has played there since then, including in last weekend’s preseason game against the Rams, where he logged 23 of 28 snaps at outside corner.

Since making the transition, he feels like it’s been smooth.

“Everyone in the organization has shown confidence in me with the position change,” Woods said. “So, I’m just trying to use each day to better myself and my craft.”

Standing at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds and having run a 4.36 40-yard dash, Woods possesses elite traits as a defensive back.

“I think when you do stuff like that, it’s for multiple reasons,” Jesse Minter said on Woods’ profile. “It’s to increase his value and see if that’s a good fit for him. “I’m excited about how he’s developed as a man coverage guy.”

While he has the tools to excel at the position, honing in on the technical aspect of it is even more crucial.

“The technique is completely different,” Woods said. “It’s a whole different world out there. There are going to be plays where you’re on an island, but I’m confident I can handle it.”

If Woods can continue to stack up good days at cornerback, he could be a guy they count on this upcoming season.

“There are a multitude of ways we can use him down the road to help us,” Minter said.