Honestly, if you weren’t staying up late to watch Pac-12 (now ACC) "After Dark" games, you probably missed the quietest riser in the secondary. Craig Woodson didn't exactly have the flashy, highlight-reel hype of a top-ten pick. But when the New England Patriots snagged the California safety with the 106th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, a lot of scouts nodded their heads. It made sense. It felt like a very "Patriots" move.
Woodson is basically the personification of "football IQ." He spent six years at Cal, which is a lifetime in college football. You've got to admire the resilience, though. He missed the entire 2021 season with a brutal knee injury, came back, and then started 26 straight games. That kind of durability and mental toughness is exactly what Jerod Mayo—and previously Bill Belichick—tended to value in Foxboro.
The Craig Woodson NFL Draft Profile: More Than Just a Safety
What most people get wrong about Woodson is labeling him a "box safety." Sure, he’s 6'0" and 200 pounds and hits like a truck. But he’s weirdly versatile. At Cal, he wasn't just roaming the deep middle. He played in the slot. He played in the box. He even took snaps at outside corner. That’s the kind of "positionless" football that modern NFL coordinators crave.
The Scouting Report Breakdown
When you look at his 2025 NFL Draft measurable, things get interesting:
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- 40-Yard Dash: 4.45 seconds (faster than many expected for a "downhill" safety).
- Vertical Jump: 36 inches.
- Broad Jump: 10'7".
- Career Stats: 245 tackles, 21 pass deflections, 5 interceptions.
He’s physical. He fills the alley with authority. If a running back breaks into the second level, Woodson is usually the one meeting him with a "hard-edge demeanor," as some scouts put it. He’s also surprisingly comfortable matching up man-to-man against tight ends. For a Patriots team that has historically struggled to find safeties who can actually cover athletic TEs, this was a massive selling point.
Why the Patriots Drafted Him at 106
New England’s secondary is already a bit of a "wolf pack" with Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers. Adding Woodson to that mix creates a rotation that can handle almost any package. While experts like Dane Brugler and some guys at Steelers Depot had him graded as a fifth or sixth-rounder, the Patriots jumped early in the fourth.
Why? Because he’s a special teams demon.
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You don't survive in the NFL as a fourth-round safety unless you can cover punts and kicks. Woodson has over 100 snaps of special teams experience from his early years at Cal. He doesn't just play the game; he understands the dirty work. He was a two-year captain. You can't fake that kind of leadership.
The "Stiff Hip" Concern
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The knock on Woodson throughout the Craig Woodson NFL Draft cycle was his "stiff hips." Sometimes he struggles to flip his hips and run with vertical threats. He can be a bit slow to process play-fakes, occasionally getting caught looking in the backfield while a receiver slips behind him. He’s a veteran, but he plays with such aggression that it sometimes works against him.
His Rookie Impact: Success or Growing Pains?
If we look at how his 2025 season actually unfolded after the draft, the results were eye-opening. Woodson didn't just sit on the bench. He appeared in all 17 games for the Patriots, eventually carving out a starting role. He finished his rookie campaign with 79 total tackles and three pass deflections.
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There were definitely "welcome to the NFL" moments. In a Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills, he got cooked in coverage by Dawson Knox for a touchdown. It happens. But he followed that up with a massive game against the Ravens, recording four tackles and a fumble recovery. He’s a "quick thinker and reactor," as Lance Zierlein noted, and that allowed him to play faster than his raw athleticism might suggest.
What's Next for the Cal Product?
Woodson isn't going to be a 10-interception-a-year ballhawk. That’s just not his game. He’s a reliable, downhill hammer who can organize a secondary and play multiple roles. For fantasy owners in IDP (Individual Defensive Player) leagues, he’s actually becoming a bit of a sleeper because he’s always around the ball.
How to track his progress:
- Watch the "Dime" Packages: See if the Patriots continue to use him specifically to neutralize big-bodied tight ends.
- Special Teams Snap Count: If his defensive snaps ever dip, his value on special teams keeps him on the roster.
- Physicality vs. Coverage: Keep an eye on his PFF coverage grades. If he can tighten up his zone discipline, he could be a ten-year pro.
Ultimately, Woodson represents the "new" middle class of the NFL. He’s an older prospect who used his six years of college to become a finished product. He might not have the "ceiling" of a superstar, but his floor is incredibly high. If you're building a defense, you need guys like Craig Woodson.
Actionable Insight for Fans and Analysts:
When evaluating late-round safety prospects in future drafts, look for "high-snap versatility." Woodson’s ability to play four different spots at Cal was the primary indicator that he would find a home in a complex NFL defense like New England's. Monitor his 2026 sophomore jump to see if his processing speed catches up to the NFL's "window dressing" pre-snap motions.