The Patriots lived up to that promise right away. They took California safety Craig Woodson four picks into Saturday’s fourth round (No. 106 overall). Woodson is the sixth player the Patriots have drafted from Cal and the first since 2011, when they took running back Shane Vereen in the second round

In New England, he will join a crowded safeties room led by veterans Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers and Jaylinn Hawkins. Woodson, whose first year at Cal was in 2019, said he played with Hawkins briefly in college.

The New England Patriots made their first defensive selection in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday, taking Cal safety Craig Woodson with the 106th overall pick.