Patriots rookie appears to have bright future after excellent postseason
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Patriots safety Craig Woodson ended his rookie season on a high note, even in a Super Bowl LX loss to the Seahawks.
Woodson was easily one of the Patriots’ best players in the 29-13 loss, registering a team-high 10 tackles, three tackles for loss and two pass breakups.
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He was also one of the Patriots’ best players in their three postseason wins over the Chargers, Texans and Broncos, earning an 85.3 PFF grade in the playoffs, ranking as the top player at his position across the NFL.
“I grew a lot, man, just from the start of the season, and just the way things ended,” Woodson said. “You can see it in my play, and I’ve trusted things a lot more. I got a lot more comfortable, and I was able to make more plays.”
Woodson had six pass breakups in the Patriots’ last three games. He also added an interception, a fumble recovery, a QB hit and four tackles for loss in his team’s playoff run.
“When you make a play, you know that you can make another one and another one, and you just kind of build on that and just keep it going,” Woodson said.
The Patriots selected Woodson in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Cal. The 24-year-old, who’s known for his football IQ, could be one of the Patriots’ top defenders next season if he continues to elevate his play.
