The New England Patriots waited for a while before adding more juice to their defense in the NFL Draft.
They were reportedly quite high on Craig Woodson from the first day they met with him, and they had him atop their big board in the fourth round, which is why they didn’t hesitate to take him with the fourth overall pick on the third day.
Woodson has turned a lot of heads during the team’s voluntary OTAs, especially thanks to his ball-hawking skills and instincts.
He’s broken up passes, hounded offensive players, and impressed with his positioning.
That’s why veteran teammate Jabrill Peppers had nothing but praise and respect for him, raving about how strong of a first impression he’s made so far:
> “Smart. Savvy,” veteran safety Jabrill Peppers [said](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45393446/what-patriots-rookie-safety-craig-woodson-stefon-diggs-boat) of Woodson. “He’s doing a great job soaking up what the coaches want him to do. Different techniques. College ball is a little different than the league — especially in the Pac-12; he’s definitely doing a good job, though.”
Peppers and Kyle Dugger are penciled in as the starting safeties.
Then again, Dugger is still recovering from an offseason ankle injury, leaving the door wide open for the 6-foot Woodson to make his way to the gridiron early on in the season.
He also made a strong impact on special teams, so Mike Vrabel will find ways to get him on the field.
After missing the 2021 season with a torn ACL, Woodson played at California for six seasons and was a starter in the last three years of college.
He was the first defensive player the Patriots took in the draft, and as such, he might be a big part of their plans.
[NEXT: Patriots Could Make Surprise Move With Stefon Diggs](https://www.thecoldwire.com/patriots-could-make-surprise-move-with-stefon-diggs/)