We know safety is a big need for the Indianapolis Colts, but what if they aren’t able to tackle that need right away in the NFL draft? Then what?
We know the top safety options in this year’s draft include Georgia’s Malaki Starks and Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts. But there’s certainly a world where perhaps the Colts go in a different direction at pick No. 14 and don’t take Starks or one where Watts is off the board before the Colts are picking again at 45th overall.
If that scenario were to play out, one of the best in the business when it comes to the NFL draft, Daniel Jeremiah, recently highlighted a late Day 2 or early Day 3 option for the Colts and new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
“One of my favorite guys in the safety group who is going to be third, fourth round, maybe you get him in the fourth round is Craig Woodson from Cal,” Jeremiah said. “He plays in the deep half. He can play downhill. He can open. He’s a smooth mover. He’s got speed. He’s a firm tackler, and he’s really, really smart. Talking to the folks at Cal, they rave about his intelligence and leadership.”
Woodson is a very experienced player with over 2,700 career snaps and that could be an important factor in Anarumo’s scheme, where a lot of asked of the safety position.
In 2024 specifically, Woodson was one of PFF’s highest-graded run defenders and tacklers at the safety position. He also held opponents to a career-low 9.0 yards per catch with two interceptions and six pass breakups.
“I’m big on trust in the back end, and I think he’s someone you get in the third, fourth round that I would trust to put back there real early in his career.”
With Anarumo at the helm of the defense we are going to see more Cover-1 from the Colts, so reliability on the back-end is a must. In addition to that, Anarumo’s defense requires versatility and relies heavily on disguising coverages, all of which, again, can put a lot on the safety’s plate.
This could mean that with experience being extremely valuable, we see the Colts tackle this need in free agency. But even so, more competition and depth is needed at safety, and Woodson could provide Indianapolis with a steady presence in the middle portion of the draft.