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Jabrill Peppers Raves About Patriots' Fourth-Round Pick at OTAs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Charlie Baduini | Last updated May 30, 2025 12:30 PM ET

The New England Patriots are in the midst of a franchise overhaul.

After a nearly 20-year run of Bill Belicheck and a one-year stint of Jerod Mayo, newly hired head coach Mike Vrabel is beginning to imprint on his new team.

It begins in the offseason, and the Patriots are hard at work preparing for the 2025 NFL season.

New England's draft class received a lot of praise, as they were able to secure a left tackle in LSU's Will Campbell, a potential receiving threat in Washington State's Kyle Williams, and a new bell cow back in Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson.

But one rookie is flying under the radar of the national media, and he is impressing some veterans at OTAs.

Former California safety Craig Woodson is making his presence felt as he attempts to make a name for himself and crack the 53-man roster.

The fourth-round pick played six seasons at Cal before turning pro, and in some ways, those extra few years in college may have been exactly what he needed to prepare himself for the NFL.

Veteran safety Jabrill Peppers had this to say regarding Woodson's performance so far.

“I like him — smart, savvy,” Peppers said, per Mark Daniels of MassLive. “He’s done a great job soaking up what the coaches want him to do, different techniques. College ball is a little different than in the league, especially in the Pac-12. So, you know, he’s definitely done a good job.”

On Woodson's first play of open practice, he was able to jump a pass from Drake Maye intended for Hunter Henry for an interception.

If he's able to continue his high-level play from college to the pros, it would be a huge plus for a Patriots defense that finished 31st in turnovers in 2024.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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