Patriots pick defensive playmaker early on Day 3 of the draft to bolster the secondary and add critical depth
The New England Patriots' fourth-round pick is officially in! With the 106th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, the New England Patriots selected California safety Craig Woodson. Everything to know about Craig Woodson Woodson was a three year starter at the University of California. He is the fifth player selected by the Patriots this […]
The New England Patriots' fourth-round pick is officially in!
With the 106th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, the New England Patriots selected California safety Craig Woodson.
Everything to know about Craig Woodson
Woodson was a three year starter at the University of California. He is the fifth player selected by the Patriots this year, but the first on the defensive side of the ball.
He spent six years in college, but emerged in 2022. This past season, he finished with 70 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2 INTs, 7 PBUs across 13 games.
Woodson also ran a 4.45 40-yard dash
Safety wasn't the Patriots biggest need, but they are bringing in a depth piece.
Here's What Dane Brugler Has To Say About Craig Woodson
The Athletic's Dane Brugler does not have Woodson as a top 100 pick, and has him ranked 17th out of all safeties available in the draft.
The 6-foot-0, 200 pound safety also brings special teams experience. However, Brugler had him graded for the sixth round.
Here's Brugler's overview on Woodson:
"A three-year starter at Cal, Woodson was an interchangeable safety in head coach Justin Wilcox’s 2-4-5 base scheme, playing nickel and both the field and boundary spots. He had a tough first three years in Berkeley (redshirt, COVID-19, knee injury), but he was a consistent presence over his final three seasons and got better each year, which didn’t go unnoticed by NFL scouts.
Whether playing down or on the backend, Woodson shows terrific recognition of run-pass development to smartly put himself in positions to make plays. He is at his best in short zones or split-safety alignments, where he can maintain spacing and drive on the football. Overall, Woodson doesn’t have dominant size or traits that make him jump off the film, but he is good enough in most critical categories NFL teams want at the safety position. He will be ready from day one to compete for a depth role," Brugler wrote.
Patriots' 2025 Draft Picks So Far
Round 1, No. 4: OT Will Campbell, LSU
Round 2, No. 38: RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
Round 3, No. 69: WR Kyle Williams, Washington State
Round 3, No. 95: C Jared Wilson, Georgia
Round 4, No. 106: S Craig Woodson, Cal
Round 5, No. 144
Round 5, No. 146
Round 5, No. 171
Round 7, No. 220
Round 7, No. 238
