Craig Woodson NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for New England Patriots S

The New England Patriots selected California S Craig Woodson with the No. 106 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Craig Woodson is an athletic and versatile safety prospect from Cal, combining fluid athleticism with a high motor and physicality. At 6'0" and 210 pounds, Woodson possesses a solid frame to compete at the next level, showcasing his ability to contribute both in coverage and run support. His aggressive and competitive nature, paired with his versatility to play deep or close to the line of scrimmage, makes him an intriguing prospect for teams seeking a multifaceted defensive back.

Craig Woodson Highlights

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Woodson thrives in run defense with his aggressive, downhill style of play. He shows excellent twitch and a quick trigger when diagnosing plays, often striking ball carriers with force and running through contact to secure tackles. His physicality and stoutness at the point of attack make him an effective player in tight spaces, especially when blitzing or filling run lanes. However, his capped long speed can lead to issues when pursuing ball carriers in space, occasionally resulting in missed angles or allowing runners to break containment.

In coverage, Woodson's fluid hips and quick feet allow him to transition smoothly and compete in man-to-man assignments, though his ideal usage lies in zone schemes. He demonstrates good timing and ball skills, frequently swiping through receivers' hands to disrupt passes and maintaining calmness with the ball in the air. Despite these strengths, Woodson's zone awareness is inconsistent, as he sometimes gets caught out of position by overcommitting to his reads. Additionally, his average length can hinder his ability to compete against larger pass-catchers and occasionally shows up as a limitation in contested situations.

Craig Woodson projects as a mid-round selection with the potential to carve out a meaningful role as a versatile safety in a defense that leverages his physicality and high motor. While his long speed and underneath zone instincts may limit his ceiling as a full-time free safety, his aggressive nature, strong tackling, and ability to match up with tight ends make him a valuable chess piece in sub-packages or as a hybrid defender. With his competitive edge and versatility, Woodson has the tools to contribute as a rotational safety with the potential for spot-starting duties early in his career.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 210

40-YARD DASH: 4.45

VERTICAL: 36"

BROAD: 10'7"

POSITIVES

— Athletic safety with fluid hips and quick feet. Shows range as a deep safety. Smooth backpedal and loose hips that aid his man coverage skills.

— Aggressive in the run game. Comes downhill quickly, striking ball-carriers and running his feet through contact.

—Versatile safety but excels in play close to the line of scrimmage. Shows twitch and high motor when blitzing.

— Ball skills when playing the man and ball. Shows good timing to swipe through hands and is calm with the ball in the air.

NEGATIVES

— Capped long speed. Quicker than fast. Has allowed the ball-carrier to outrun his angles at times.

— Inconsistent ball awareness, especially in zone. Lacks elite feel in zone coverage, allowing him his eyes to pull him out of position.

— Average length. Although he is physical, he can get engulfed when taking on tight ends and linemen. Length shows up at times in tackling. Can melt off leg tackles

NOTES

— Born Feb. 20, 2001

— Games Started: 40

— 3-Star recruit in the 2019 class, per 247Sports

— 2024: Third Team All-ACC

— 2023: Fourth Team All-Pac-12

— 2022: Honorable mention All-Pac 12

GRADE: 6.9 (Potential Role Player — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 118

POSITION RANK: S12

PRO COMPARISON: Khari Willis

Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings