CHARLOTTE — The Panthers knew they needed safety help going into free agency, and appear to have found it.
The Panthers officially signed free agent safety Xavier Woods on Thursday afternoon to a three-year deal.
The 26-year-old safety gives them a solid starting option, after veteran Juston Burris went to unrestricted free agency on Wednesday afternoon.
Woods played for the Vikings last season, starting all 17 games, after spending his first four years with the Cowboys.
The Louisiana Tech product has 65 career starts and eight career interceptions, three last season. He also gives the Panthers another experienced option in a young secondary.
Safety Xavier Woods played in Minnesota in 2021 after four years with Dallas (2017-20).
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021 in Minneapolis. Los Angeles won 30-23. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) runs during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 07, 2021 in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021 in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 19-17. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Minnesota Vikings safety Xavier Woods (23) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) works against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) pursues a play on defense against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) pursues a play on defense against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) breaks up a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker)
Minnesota Vikings' Xavier Woods against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) carries the ball against Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) during the first half of football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 34-31. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) runs after an interception against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) runs during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 07, 2021 in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) runs up field behind teammate Eric Kendricks (54) after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 34-31. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) runs onto the field for warm ups prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. The Vikings won 27-20. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Minnesota Vikings safety Xavier Woods (23) celebrates after an interception during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods looks on from the bench against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) carries the ball against Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) during the first half of football game, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 34-31. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) celebrates after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Minnesota Vikings safety Xavier Woods (23) on defense during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) reacts after a play during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker)
Minnesota Vikings free safety Xavier Woods (23) intercepts a pass intended for Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson, right, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Dallas Cowboys free safety Xavier Woods (25) smiles during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Dallas Cowboys safety Xavier Woods runs on the field during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Dallas Cowboys center Joe Looney (73) and free safety Xavier Woods (25) react during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Dallas Cowboys' Xavier Woods (25) reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Dallas Cowboys free safety Xavier Woods (25) in action against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Dallas Cowboys safety Xavier Woods, 25, drops back into pass coverage while New York Giants tight end Evan Engram, left, runs a route during the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Dallas Cowboys safety Xavier Woods (25) gets ready for the play during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Sep. 13, 2020 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Dallas Cowboys free safety Xavier Woods (25) defends against the Arizona Cardinals during an NFL Football game in Arlington, Texas, Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Dallas Cowboys safety Xavier Woods (25) during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Dallas Cowboys defensive back Xavier Woods (25) prepares for the snap during an NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Dallas Cowboys defensive back Xavier Woods walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 38-31. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Dallas Cowboys free safety Xavier Woods (25) tackles Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Greg Ward (84) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)
Dallas Cowboys' Xavier Woods (25) and DeMarcus Lawrence (90) rear, celebrate during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Washington Football Team tight end Logan Thomas (82) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys safety Xavier Woods (25) in an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Dallas Cowboys free safety Xavier Woods (25) intercepts a pass over cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (24) and Washington Redskins wide receiver Maurice Harris (13) during the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Dallas Cowboys free safety Xavier Woods (25) celebrates a fumble recover y the defense against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Dallas Cowboys free safety Xavier Woods (25) celebrates with teammates after catching an interception against the Philadelphia Eagles in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack (25) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys' Xavier Woods (25) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
