FOXBOROUGH – One of the Patriots’ biggest roster moves this offseason will certainly help the defense. By signing All-Pro safety Kevin Byard, the team also set up a situation to help young safety Craig Woodson as well.
Byard, 32, comes to New England as a heralded veteran and one of the best safeties in the NFL. Coming off a season in which he earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors, he’ll enter his 11th NFL season with the Patriots.
Although the Patriots haven’t even had a full padded practice yet, it’s already easy to see why Byard’s presence will benefit Woodson. All the second-year safety has to do is watch the veteran closely.
“Kevin is a good guy. Man knows a lot of ball,” Woodson said from Wednesday’s Community Day. “Just watching him, even during the little practices that we are having, just watching how he does things, it’s cool to have somebody like that with a lot of experience. I get to ask him a lot of questions in the locker room, on the field. I’m excited to play with him this season. I think we’re going to make a lot of plays. I’m just ready to turn up with him.”
Byard brings 10 years and 164 career games of experience that Woodson can draw from as he continues to develop. A fourth-round pick out of California, Woodson defied expectations in his rookie season.
As a rookie, Woodson beat out veterans Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers for a starting safety spot next to Jaylinn Hawkins. He started 15 of 17 games played, finishing with 79 tackles and three pass breakups. Woodson was outstanding for the Patriots in the playoffs, finishing with 30 tackles, six passes defended and an interception in four games.
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In free agency, Byard was one of the Patriots’ top targets. The three-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro gives the Patriots one of the best secondaries in the NFL. Woodson knows that it’ll be beneficial for him as well.
“I know he’s going to help me out there when it comes to seeing things, allowing the game to slow down even more than it’s starting to already,” Woodson said. “So, I mean, once we get to the practice and on the field, I’m sure he’s going to give me some keys and some tools that are going to help me.”
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