Bengals were set to draft Peter Woods if not for Dexter Lawrence trade, per former scout

TL;DR

The Cincinnati Bengals traded their 10th overall pick for Dexter Lawrence, with former scout Bryan Broaddus revealing they intended to draft Peter Woods if they hadn't made the trade. This decision has implications for other teams in the draft, including the Dallas Cowboys.

Key points

Bengals traded 10th overall pick for Dexter Lawrence
Former scout revealed Bengals intended to draft Peter Woods
Woods projected to go late in the first round
Trade impacts draft strategy for teams picking after Bengals
Bengals focused on strengthening their defensive line

Peter WoodsDexter LawrenceCincinnati BengalsNew York Giants

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 24: Duke Tobin of the Cincinnati Bengals speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Cincinnati Bengals shocked the NFL world by trading the 10th overall pick in the upcoming Draft for former New York Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. Since the trade, it has been speculated that the Bengals were looking at where the top defensive players would land and didn’t like their options. Well, now an insider has confirmed something worse. On the ADHD Cowboys podcast, former Dallas Cowboys scout Bryan Broaddus revealed that Cincinnati would have reached for defensive tackle Peter Woods out of Clemson had they held onto the pick. Host Jeff Cavanaugh mentioned that he thought the Lawrence trade could be good for the Cowboys, as it means there will be one more defensive player available when they pick. “Here’s intel for you, Jeff,” Broaddus then said, “(The Bengals) They were going to reach on Peter Woods. They were going to take Peter Woods at 10. They were going to reach on a defensive tackle is what they were gonna do.” Woods, though talented, has mostly been projected to go late in the first round, so the pick would have benefited the teams that picked after the Bengals, including the Cowboys. Cavanaugh then responded to Broaddus’ insight with, “Well, they made a good trade.” Broaddus then joked that, about 20 years ago, he would call Duke Tobin to let him know the Cowboys were “open for business”, or available trade partners, but Tobin would show no interest. The more we learn about the options heading into the first round, the more it seems Tobin and the Bengals made a wise decision to add an instant upgrade on the defensive line to a team that is in win-now mode.

Q&A

Why did the Bengals trade their 10th overall pick?

The Bengals traded their 10th overall pick to acquire Dexter Lawrence, aiming to strengthen their defensive line.

Who is Peter Woods and why was he a target for the Bengals?

Peter Woods is a defensive tackle from Clemson, projected to be a late first-round pick, and the Bengals planned to draft him at 10 if they hadn't traded the pick.

What impact does the Bengals' trade have on the NFL Draft?

The trade allows other teams, like the Cowboys, to benefit from the availability of defensive players that the Bengals would have selected.