Peter Woods has signed his first-ever NFL contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, which brings the team's draft class into view with only one rookie remaining unsigned: LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
Woods is set to make just under $18 million total over the life of the four-year slotted deal after being taken at No. 29 overall in the first round of this year's NFL Draft. Woods comes with a cap hit of $4.493 million in 2026. According to Adam Schefter, Woods negotiated the "highest upfront percentage of his signing bonus in Chiefs’ 1st-round history." That feels like a bit of agent-speak when it comes to pre-slotted contracts.
Woods arrived at Clemson as one of the most coveted defensive linemen in the 2023 recruiting cycle, as a five-star prospect (Rivals) and ESPN's ninth-best player regardless of position. As a true freshman, Woods recorded 26 total tackles, including 3 for a loss, which earned him Freshman All-American honors.
Woods' sophomore season in 2024 was his most productive, in which he logged 9 tackles for loss and 3 sacks, but his dominant presence up front wasn't confined to the stat sheet, which is how he earned All-American status in 2025 with 3.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. Over three seasons for the Tigers, Woods totaled 99 tackles, 14.5 for loss, 5.0 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.
With the Chiefs, Woods represents the biggest investment made in a very long time along the defensive interior, a position that's been largely neglected for the last decade. For years, the Chiefs have relied on Chris Jones and company to carry things up front, but the selection of Woods adds premiere talent up front to go with last year's second-round pick Omarr Norman-Lott as well as new free-agent signing Khyiris Tonga.
Not only can the Chiefs rely on Woods for the next four seasons, but the first-round designation also provides some measure of control over a fifth season, although it will cost them quite a bit more to exercise that option. Still, if Woods lives up to his draft billing and becomes a menace in the trenches for K.C., they're going to be happy to pay that bill.
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