In the New England Patriots' latest effort to acquire a viable candidate for the nose tackle job, the team signed Seattle Seahawks restricted free agent Cedric Woodward to an offer sheet.

The pursuit of Woodward, a three-year veteran with limited playing time, represents a notable change of strategy by New England officials as the team's defense moves more toward a 3-4 front for the 2003 season. The club last week was seeking a veteran nose tackle, specifically unrestricted free agent Jeff Zgonina of St. Louis, but he signed with the Miami Dolphins.

Woodward, 25, is a wide-bodied defender (6-feet-2, 325 pounds), and said to have solid potential, but simply hasn't lined up much from scrimmage.

Details of the offer sheet were not immediately available, but the Seahawks have one week to match its principle terms, or permit Woodward to move on to the Patriots. Since the Seahawks retained a right of first refusal, making Woodward a qualifying offer of $605,000, they would receive a sixth-round draft choice as compensation if they opted not to match the offer sheet.

A former University of Texas standout, Woodward was chosen by Baltimore in the sixth round of the 2000 draft. He was cut toward the end of camp that year and claimed by the Seahawks on waivers.

He saw no action as a rookie, but has appeared in all 16 games in each of the past two seasons, and recorded four tackles. Woodward has been a backup to Seattle tackle Chad Eaton, ironically a former New England starter, and also played extensively on special teams.

While he is viewed as a bit of a project, the Patriots visited with Woodward last week, and liked what they saw. New England has been attempting to add interior linemen, because they will emphasize the 3-4 front more, and want to move tackle Richard Seymour to end in that alignment.

Woodward is the eighth restricted free agent to agree to an offer sheet with another team during the signing period. In four cases, the incumbent club matched the offer sheet, and three times the players switched teams. The deadline for signing restricted free agents is April 18.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.