Craig Woodson’s transition from Day 3 pick to full-time contributor was one of the bright spots of the 2025 season, and he’s positioned to make an even bigger impact in year two.
The New England Patriots made several high-profile additions on both sides of the ball this offseason as they look to make another deep playoff push in 2026. But the team’s most secure path to repeat success may actually come from players who were already in the building.
Internal development is at the heart of team-building in the NFL, and after a surprise Super Bowl LX run in 2025 featured significant contributions from rookies, all eyes will be on which year two players will take another step forward as sophomores.
Our New England Patriots’ 2026 “Year Two Leap Candidates” series continues today — and we’ll be flipping sides of the ball to more closely examine the secondary.
Year Two Leap Candidate: S Craig Woodson
Round 4, No. 106 Overall in 2025 NFL Draft
Dec 21, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; New England Patriots safety Craig Woodson (31) celebrates a Patriots recovering a fumble by Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (not pictured) during the first half of the game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn ImagesCraig Woodson seemingly came out of nowhere for New England last season — from draft night onward.
The 106th overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Woodson was the first pick that the Patriots made which strayed away from the consensus board, drawing the ire of many analysts when he was brought into the fold. New England’s first choice on Day 3, projections varied for Woodson as he geared up for a developmental role behind incumbent starters Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers.
Instead, Woodson competed for and won a starting job through the summer and into the fall. The Patriots released Peppers prior to the start of the regular season on August 25, and Dugger was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 28 as the rookie continued to command a significant role at the third level of the New England defense.
As Woodson saw more time on the field, his expedited development path continued. He got better as the season went along, and ended up leading the team by playing nearly every defensive snap through the regular season and playoffs (1,202 defensive snaps taken).
He showed great anticipation and the ability to have an impact on plays in the deep portion of the field, and had the versatility to come downhill and play in the box as a sure tackler. Woodson always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, and as he saw more reps, was able to finish plays much more consistently.
After finishing the 2025 regular season with 79 tackles and 3 passes defensed, Woodson exploded in the playoffs, adding 6 more pass breakups and an interception (vs. the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round). His highest graded performances of the year both came in the postseason, with a 90.3 overall grade against Houston and an 80.3 overall grade at the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.
Including the postseason, Woodson finished as the highest-graded safety in the NFL in run defense, registering a grade of 89.7.
Now, he enters year two with reinforcements in the safety room to supplement his growth. He’ll be paired with a reigning first-team All-Pro and the NFL’s interception leader (led the league with seven interceptions in 2025 and since 2016 with 36) in Kevin Byard — a player who has been touted for having many of the same strengths Woodson’s displayed throughout his 10-year career.
Byard spent six years (2018-2023) with Mike Vrabel as a member of the Tennessee Titans, and has been a perennial team captain since that point. His knowledge of Vrabel’s culture, defensive scheme, and communication on the field will help Woodson continue to be near the ball — and if his finishing ability rubs off on the year-two star, turnovers will follow.
That’s going to help Woodson unlock a new ceiling entering year two, and a big part of the reason why Woodson is not only a year two leap candidate on this list, but someone with an immediate opportunity to turn himself into a Pro-Bowl caliber player in 2026.
Looking Ahead
The longer Woodson spent on the field in 2025, the more he continued to impress. Close misses turned into well-timed breakups and secure tackles — and he always seemed to be right where the play was. Now paired with Byard, Woodson will have the freedom to impact the game at all three levels, and the instincts and experience to execute.
What would a successful season look like for Craig Woodson this year? How do you think the duo of Woodson and Byard will transform the third level of the Patriots defense? Let us know in the comments section below.
Next, we’ll be returning to the offensive side of the ball to examine a home-run hitter in the backfield.
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