It was crucial for the new regime led by Mike Vrabel in New England to hit the offseason out of the park after back-to-back seasons that ended with a 4-13 record. The previous draft classes provided more busts than stars, and short of begging players to sign with the Patriots, it was nearly impossible to get the help they needed through the door.
Based on what we've seen so far, this season's rookies have been everything they needed and more, but it's not just the top picks that have been productive. Others who haven't received as much recognition, like safety Craig Woodson, are well on their way to becoming pillars of the roster for years to come.
Woodson, in particular, has made quite a mark on the team since he was picked in the fourth round earlier this year. Not only did he beat out veterans Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers to be a starter, both of whom were eventually traded, but he has also been on the field for nearly every defensive snap this season.
It's a role that he's not taking for granted, and because the Patriots have been a team with an impressive secondary, it looks like they hit the jackpot (again) with another addition in Woodson.
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While speaking to Mark Daniels of MassLive last week, Woodson emphasized how grateful he has been for the opportunity to start 10 games for the Patriots so far, well on his way to tying some legendary players in that position as a rookie, and shared his eagerness to continue to get better.
We've already seen how impressive he can be among some superstar teammates around him, as he has recorded 51 combined tackles, four for a loss, three passes defended, and a fumble recovery.
“It’s been a blessing. I’m just trying to take advantage of the opportunity. A lot of people don’t get this opportunity this fast, but for me to have it, I’m just trying to take it day by day, get better, learn from the mistakes that I made, and then just build on things I’ve done good.”
Beyond his personal improvement in performance and seamless transition from college to the NFL, Woodson has had the good fortune of being surrounded by invaluable mentors in the secondary, including Dugger and Peppers, before they were traded.
Working alongside players like Carlton Davis III, Christian Gonzalez, and the rising star of Jaylinn Hawkins is a major plus to his development, and can serve as a big help to the foundation he's creating for his career.
Woodson has already proved he can be an integral part of what the Patriots are trying to accomplish with their defense in just his first season, so the possibilities of what he can ultimately become are exciting to imagine. He's the latest star the Vrabel regime clearly hit on in the draft, as they hope to build a young, hungry team to lead them to relevance as soon as possible.