Pros, cons of Kansas City Chiefs picking Clemson's Peter Woods in 2026 NFL Draft

Pros, cons of Kansas City Chiefs picking Clemson's Peter Woods in 2026 NFL Draft

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Clemson football defensive tackle Peter Woods in the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23.

Woods was selected No. 29 overall in the first round. He was Clemon's first defensive player taken in this year's draft.

Here's what Woods brings to Kansas City, based on our own observations from his tenure at Clemson:

What Peter Woods brings to Kansas City Chiefs in 2026 NFL Draft

The 6-foot-3 defensive tackle, who weighs 298 pounds, spent three seasons at Clemson. Woods departed early because of his mix of size and freakish athleticism.

He can beat defenders with a bull rush, chase down ball carriers against the run and get out of double teams. He was often double- and triple-teamed in his final season at Clemson, which contributed to his lack of gaudy stats, but also struggled with consistency.

Peter Woods highlights, strengths, weaknesses at Clemson

Woods split time at defensive end in 2024 but is more natural and impactful at defensive tackle. He logged a career-high 30 tackles, including two sacks, and one pass deflection in 2025 to earn first-team All-ACC honors and became Clemson’s first All-American at defensive tackle since Christian Wilkins in 2018

Entering 2025, he was a projected top-10 selection because of his power and awareness, but consistency issues caused him to drop in projections. Still, he has Pro Bowl-caliber upside in the NFL.

Peter Woods stats at Clemson