Could Craig Woodson (left) break into the Patriots' starting unit at safety ahead of Kyle Dugger?
Could Craig Woodson (left) break into the Patriots' starting unit at safety ahead of Kyle Dugger?Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff
FOXBOROUGH — In college, safety Craig Woodson earned the nickname “The Eraser” because of his knack for eliminating any sort of defensive mistakes, as well as wiping out any sizable offensive gains through his work on the back end.
However, throughout the first two weeks of Patriots’ training camp, the fourth-round pick out of Cal is showing that he might be similarly capable of erasing New England’s long-established depth chart at safety.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Woodson, who has started to take reps with many of Patriots’ presumed defensive starters, took it up a notch during Sunday’s practice. The 24-year-old appeared to pick off quarterback Drake Maye in an 11-on-11 competitive scrimmage, setting off a big celebration on the defensive side of the ball.
After practice, however, Woodson acknowledged he didn’t come down with it cleanly.
“Nah. It hit the ground, but I still played it off,” he said with a chuckle. “I should have made it look like I had it and ran the other way. I definitely learned from that type of situation; you just play it off and the refs don’t know.”
While head coach Mike Vrabel has remade the linebacking group this offseason by favoring faster, lighter defenders like Robert Spillane and Jack Gibbens over players like Ja’Whaun Bentley, a similar makeover could be coming to the safety room in the form of players like Woodson. Woodson and other younger defensive backs have pushed veteran incumbents like Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers this summer, prompting speculation the Patriots could rethink the previously established pecking order.
Woodson started all 13 games last season at Cal, and finished with 70 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery, and seven passes defensed. But it was his versatility that really set him apart in college, playing both safety spots with aplomb.
While Dugger and Peppers have also been versatile, Woodson is a safety who looks and plays more like a cornerback. He’s roughly 20 pounds lighter than the veterans, and that allows him to have a greater burst. That quickness and positional versatility make him an intriguing part of the defensive scheme for 2025.
This summer, he’s flashed good coverage skills while also showing a nice ability to play a more physical brand of football closer to the line of scrimmage against the run. That’s in addition to spending time as a free safety, tracking the ball from center field.
“At Cal we kind of did everything,” he said. “For me to be in different positions, whether that’s free [safety] or in the box, whatever it is, I’m just ready for the challenge.”
That includes a noticeable willingness to chip in on special teams. He made an impressive open-field tackle in coverage last Friday against the Commanders, and is self-aware enough to realize that even for a highly-regarded rookie, special teams remains the best way to make your mark in the early days of your NFL career.
“Special teams, for a young guy, is a way to earn a role on the team and have a spot on the 53-man roster,” said Woodson. “So I think for me special teams is important, and an extension of defense in a way. Just being on there and being able to communicate, I think that’s what’s going to help.”
For his part, Woodson — who was taken with the 106th overall pick — said Sunday he’s welcomed the chance to work alongside veterans like Dugger and Peppers over the course of camp.
“It’s been good. Those guys have been in the league for a long time,” he said. “Just learning from them. Asking them questions. Being able to hear how they think and process the game. I think it just helps me as a young guy who was trying to be in those shoes.”
Then, there’s the relationship with former college teammate Jaylinn Hawkins. The pair (and Peppers) were part of a safety rotation on Sunday. It’s been easy for Woodson to work with Hawkins this summer, because they’ve been able to lean on their college connection.
“There’s been a connection since my freshman year,” Woodson said of Hawkins. “He was a senior in my freshman year (at Cal), so we’ve always stayed in contact even when he left and went to the league. So there’s a good connection there. We’re on the field a lot together, so it’s fun to play like that.”
Woodson is also cognizant of the fact that there’s still a lot of football to be played between now and the start of the regular season. Like the rest of New England’s rookie class, you need to continue to stack good days and build momentum into the regular season. In the end, he’s keeping it simple: A knack for erasing errors and staying versatile is a formula that’s worked for him to this point, and one he wants to lean on moving forward.
“Whatever position that the coaches want to put me in,” he said, “I have to be ready.”
Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social.