My Only WTF Moment

[signbabybrady]

IMO, Mapu is not making the 53 as a safety. SEVEN is more than enough.

Peppers, Dugger
Epps, Hawkins, Woodson
Schooler, Pettus

I tend to agree on Mapu which is why I want to see him at coverage LB before cutting him and I wasn't counting Epps or pettus and basically cut Hawkins for Woodson.

7 safeties is way too many. I see 10 DBs split it however you want between CB and Safety. And I put Schooler in as a STer.

 

[ViperGTS]

My only complaint, and that's a too strong of a word, is the long snapper pick. I get they control where he goes and they don't have to outbid... ya ok. How much more would it have cost to get him as an UDFA? $25k? $50? Meh. I am not that upset about a 7th rounder. Freaking love the draft, love the FAs. Let's play some football!

They liked him a lot, there was plenty of buzz that that many other teams took that exact approach and guess what, they didn't get him. Long Snappers, to most are next to useless. To a punter, they are invaluable. A bad LS can ruin a game.

So I for one am happy they got their guy.

 

[Pape]

7 safeties is way too many. I see 10 DBs split it however you want between CB and Safety. And I put Schooler in as a STer.

7 is excessive... maybe trying the players out in different roles based on their athleticism?

 

[UrbanCowboy]

That the Board has been happy the last few days. [I love it ... I know some people love arguing, but I'm in the camp of coming here for some info, fun, and a few laughs.]

 

[WhatJustHappened]

If you heard cowden interview they mentioned about how crucial communication is and they wanted an immediate starter at free safety where communication is vital and he has great speed more than dMac. So doesn't really matter when you drafted a 140-180 guy at 100 . Typically 4th rounders are just contributors or depth pieces unless they play a WR or TE and they pan out. This was a need and he fit their bill.

DMac was clocked at 22MPH.
Just sayin'.

 

[patfanken]

Mr. Irrelevant was my WTF moment though a very week one; I too wanted Dippree specifically and would have called it a HR final pick. However have to wonder if THIS was the scenario. Perhaps, the Pats had already made contact with Dipree's people and made a sizable enough offer and the fact of a real chance of making the roster since we don't have anyone with his skill set on it, and we KNEW that we were going to get him here as an UDFA.

Still doesn't explain the actual pick of a CB who is totally unremarkable on the surface. Well if you are going to WTF it you can't hate it with the last pick of the draft, especially since you picked up 4 or 5 guys who have a legit chance to make the roster or PS later



\

 

[maust]

WOODSON was my WTF moment. Again, I was more than fine when we got the same player we would have picked with our next pick. I really didn't wanted to pass on Farmer. But all's well that ends well. In the end, Woodson was a bonus.

That was your only WTF moment? Must be nice, I've had at least 20 today. Like just a few minutes ago I was standing there and was like all "WTF am I doing in here?" I covered it well though, I went to the bar and poured a couple of fingers of bourbon. I doubt the dog or wife suspected I was just trying to look natural

 

[imahobgoblin]

Picking Kobe Minor was definitely one of those moments

No it wasn't. It was the last pick of the frickin draft.

 

[signbabybrady]

That was your only WTF moment? Must be nice, I've had at least 20 today. Like just a few minutes I was standing there and was like all "WTF am I doing in the here?" I covered it well though, I went to the bar and poured a couple of fingers of bourbon. I doubt the dog or wife suspected I was just trying to look natural

Beats my WTF moment........that's not a fart. I covered it well with a shower and taking out the trash.

 

[mgteich]

I tend to agree on Mapu which is why I want to see him at coverage LB before cutting him and I wasn't counting Epps or pettus and basically cut Hawkins for Woodson.

7 safeties is way too many. I see 10 DBs split it however you want between CB and Safety. And I put Schooler in as a STer.

I like 10 between corner and safety plus Schooler plus an additional STer if it works out that way.
CB: Gonzo, Davis, Jones, Austin
S: Peppers, Dugger, Epps, Hawkins
DB: Woodson. ???
ST: Schooler

 

[TommyD4207]

I'm still confused about the first 7th round pick.

I can't...

 

[TommyD4207]

I gave the draft an A+.

I was a bit surprised when we traded down from 75, but getting the 2026 pick seemed worth it, especially when we got the same player at 85.

WOODSON was my WTF moment. Again, I was more than fine when we got the same player we would have picked with our next pick. I really didn't wanted to pass on Farmer. But all's well that ends well. In the end, Woodson was a bonus.

Analysts and posters really dislike drafting STers. Woodson is a fine STer AND a backup free safety, AND a backup nickel back, AND a backup outside corner. In the end, he is a perfect #5 or #6 corner (replacing Bolden and/or Dial). Also, I like the idea that we drafted a kicker and a long snapper rather than waiting for the UDFA's and maybe not getting who Vrabel wanted. The right kicker and long snapper are worth more than a 6th and a 7th.

My only disappointment was not drafting Vrabel's top choice for TE in the 7th rather than waiting for the UDFA's. Perhaps his man was one of the UDFA's anyway.

Woodson's not a Special Teamer.
It's not your fault that "Analysts and Posters" never saw a Cal game.
Daniel Jeremiah did. Had him ranked 90th on his board.
Vrabel and company were as excited about taking Woodson as they were any other pick in the draft. They traded up to get him.

 

[mgteich]

Woodson's not a Special Teamer.
It's not your fault that "Analysts and Posters" never saw a Cal game.
Daniel Jeremiah did. Had him ranked 90th on his board.
Vrabel and company were as excited about taking Woodson as they were any other pick in the draft. They traded up to get him.

OK, so you wouldn't have picked Farmer instead of Woodson? OK! I would have switched the picks. Vrabel's order worked; mine might not have. Congrats to the team.
===========================
OK, so you don't think that Woodson being drafted where he was drafted partly resulted from being a top STer AND a backup nickel back AND a backup outside CB AND a safety.
=====
Do you think that he is starting at FS? Really? How high was he rated as a safety. Where was he forecast to be picked.

I think that he will get most of his reps on special teams, as befits a #4 CB and a #4 S.

 

[NormZauchin]

No it wasn't. It was the last pick of the frickin draft.

Belichick would have picked Minor in the second round.

 

[TommyD4207]

OK, so you wouldn't have picked Farmer instead of Woodson? OK! I would have switched the picks. Vrabel's order worked; mine might not have. Congrats to the team.
===========================
OK, so you don't think that Woodson being drafted where he was drafted partly resulted from being a top STer AND a backup nickel back AND a backup outside CB AND a safety.
=====
Do you think that he is starting at FS? Really? How high was he rated as a safety. Where was he forecast to be picked.

I think that he will get most of his reps on special teams, as befits a #4 CB and a #4 S.

1) They got both players. They traded up so they wouldn't miss Woodson.
2) I think he's starting at Free Safety by mid-season, yes, if not day 1. He beats out Epps? The job is his.

They wanted Woodson for his versatility, yes, and having him out there means they won't be tipping coverages, should they ask him to play nickel on a play, or in the box on a play, both of which he's capable of. But make no mistake, this is your free safety of the future, and likely the very near future.

 

[mgteich]

1) They got both players. They traded up so they wouldn't miss Woodson.
2) I think he's starting at Free Safety by mid-season, yes, if not day 1. He beats out Epps? The job is his.

They wanted Woodson for his versatility, yes, and having him out there means they won't be tipping coverages, should they ask him to play nickel on a play, or in the box on a play, both of which he's capable of. But make no mistake, this is your free safety of the future, and likely the very near future.

Just BTW, in Jeremiah's BPA, Framer was 77, Swinson was 87, Woodson was 90.

Before Day 3 started, many of us wanted Farmer and Swinson. Congrats to Vrabel for getting both AND Woodson.
===========
I certainly hope that one of Epps or Woodson will be good enough to beat out one of the top 10 free safeties in the NFL last year. Stats show that this was Peppers. In any case, they are our future.

 

[signbabybrady]

I like 10 between corner and safety plus Schooler plus an additional STer if it works out that way.
CB: Gonzo, Davis, Jones, Austin
S: Peppers, Dugger, Epps, Hawkins
DB: Woodson. ???
ST: Schooler

I guess that question mark is either Mapu or Dial but I also think I like both better than Hawkins and Epps.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think we can slot him into the Jaylin Hawkins spot and while he can back up the corner spots you mention he doesn't necessarily have to impact the battle for depth corners between Dial, Austin and whoever else. Woodson versatile might allow you to try and slip one of them to the practice squad but there's potentially room for them all if the play well enough.

If anyone is feeling the squeeze from this selection it's probably Mapu. Just another reason to try him more at LB.

I think Mapu is a goner. They are loaded at strong safety and he’s not a free safety. I think he’s a good football player, but doesn’t have a position unless a team can find a hybrid specialist role for him.

 

[Triumph]

Taylor Kyles

@tkyles
Craig Woodson could be considered a reach, but you take your guys on day 3, and he fits a need at safety/nickel while fitting the #Patriots mold for dependability with three seasons as a starter
@dpbrugler
also reports in The Beast that NFL scouts say Woodson's an A-plus person


11:25 AM · Apr 26, 2025
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I dont see what there is to not like. He ran a 4.4 which was the theme of the Pats draft in taking speed. He is older and mature and reported to possess character. Likes to hit. Who doesnt like a Safety that looks for contact? Clean uniform Mcourty he is not.

 

[Wozzy]

I would have preferred CJ West in that spot and tried to get Woodson next, but they got Farmer eventually so it soothed my nerves.

I definitely would have prioritized DT over Safety.