Meet Peter Woods, Chiefs' 1st-round draft pick from Clemson who can be Chris Jones' heir

Meet Peter Woods, Chiefs' 1st-round draft pick from Clemson who can be Chris Jones' heir originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Kansas City Chiefs made noise early in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft by trading up for Mansoor Delane.

They stayed put with their second pick of the round, at No. 29, and used it to select Peter Woods out of Clemson.

The big defensive tackle joins the cornerback Delane in a defense-heavy first round for the Chiefs.

As they look to bounce back from a 6-11 season, that could be exactly what they need.

Who is Peter Woods?

Woods is a 21-year old defensive tackle from Clemson who measures up at 6-foot-2 and 298 pounds.

He was a four-time state champion at Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama.

Woods was the top defensive tackle recruit in the high school class of 2023.

He had 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in 2024 for Clemson before dropping to 3.5 TFL and 2.0 sacks in 2025.

At the NFL Combine, Woods had a vertical jump of 29 inches and a broad jump of 8'8".

He ran the 20-yard shuttle in 4.54 seconds and did the three-cone drill in 7.70 seconds.

His 6-4 and 3/8 wingspan is strong.

Now, he'll try to make Steve Spagnuolo's defense better, and he can eventually replace Chris Jones.

"Chris Jones is 32 years old and there have been whispers that he could walk away if another Super Bowl ring is earned soon," ESPN's Matt Miller writes. "The Chiefs have tried to add impact playmakers on the defensive line through previous drafts but have yet to find a true difference-maker. Woods' 2024 tape showed a star pass rusher (8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks); his 2025 season wasn't quite as impressive on paper. His quickness as a 3-technique is Round 1 caliber, and he has plenty of upside if he can be more consistent."