The Patriots are one step closer to signing their 2025 draft class.
Safety Craig Woodson, a fourth-round selection in this year’s NFL Draft, has signed his rookie contract with the New England Patriots. The team announced the news on Friday.
Woodson, 24, arrived in New England as the 106th overall pick in the draft. The 6-foot-0, 200-pounder previously spent six seasons at Cal and saw action in 46 games with 40 starts. A versatile presence in the Golden Bears’ secondary as well as a regular on special teams, he was a two-time honorable All-Pac 12 selection and third-team All-ACC selection in 2024.
Terms of his contract were not officially announced. Via the NFL rookie wage scale, however, his deal is worth $5.27 million over four years.
With Woodson putting his signature under that pact, only one of the Patriots’ 11 draft picks remains unsigned: running back TreVeyon Henderson, the 38th pick in the second round. It is believed that the percentage of guarantees in his contract is the main cause for the delay.
As for Woodson, he is one of multiple offseason investments made by the Patriots at the safety position. Before he was brought aboard in the draft, the team had already signed Jaylinn Hawkins and Marcus Epps in free agency.
In total, New England currently has eight safeties under contract. Besides Woodson and the aforementioned Hawkins and Epps, the team also rosters projected starters Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers as well as Dell Pettus, Brenden Schooler and Josh Minkins. Former safety Marte Mapu was moved to linebacker this offseason.
The Patriots are currently on their summer break. They will hold their first practice of training camp on Wednesday, July 23.