Coming into the 2026 NFL Draft, nearly every NFL draft analyst was mocking a defensive lineman to the Chiefs with one of their two first-round picks. It was almost a foregone conclusion that Kansas City would invest heavy draft capital up front after a quiet free agency on the defensive line. As a draft analyst myself, I wrote about a slew of targets for the Chiefs in the 2026 draft, and one man stood out above them all as my favorite player for the Chiefs to target... Peter Woods.
Throughout the draft process, I composed several articles regarding the Chiefs' targets in the 2026 draft, many of which featured Peter Woods. Some examples of these articles are linked below.
- Draft day - Peter Woods falling to Chiefs at 29 feels like draft night robbery
- Top 75 prospects for the Chiefs - Peter Woods clocks in at 13
- Pre-Draft deep dive - Chiefs landing Clemson star Peter Woods suddenly feels very real
- Peter Woods "the best of the best" - 5 DT prospects to watch after the Combine
- Peter Woods mocked to KC at 29 - Chiefs 7-round mock draft
Woods entered the 2025-2026 season as a consensus top-10 player in the class, and most everyone had him graded as the top defensive tackle in the draft. Last season was a disaster for Clemson as a whole, and that took a major toll on Woods' draft stock, with many scouts even having him fall out of the first round. Despite this, Woods was on the list of "my guys" in the draft with a top-10 grade, and I had even mocked him to the Chiefs with the ninth pick earlier in the offseason.
Peter. Woods. pic.twitter.com/UBHgDKoorK
— Ron Kopp Jr (@RonOnChiefs) August 7, 2026
If Woods was on the Chiefs' board with their second pick in the first round, it was clear he would be an exceptional fit. In my opinion, Woods was the best 3-tech defensive tackle in the class and routinely showed the ability to move across the line, playing as a 0-tech nose tackle or a 5-tech DE. Over his three seasons with Clemson, Woods was arguably the best defensive lineman in the nation during that stretch. While he did not fill up the stat sheet, his impact on the game was immeasurable.
Now, Woods is at training camp for the Chiefs, making headlines as one of the most dominant players on the field. His incredibly well-rounded skill set, with good power, a strong base, and a great blend of pass-rush moves, has been on full display, and fans and analysts alike are excited about the impact Woods could make in Kansas City. Now playing alongside superstar Chris Jones, Woods will have an opportunity to make a major impact early in his NFL career.
Chiefs’ Kingsley Suamataia vs. Peter Woods (99) and Chris Jones pic.twitter.com/qXicll6EDl
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) August 4, 2026
While Woods has yet to play an NFL game, his impact in camp has been on full display, and he looks like he will become yet another example of Brett Veach's success in the draft. Kansas City got a steal with Woods falling all the way to pick 29, and fans should not be caught by surprise when they see Woods' early success in his NFL career. The flashes we have seen from Woods in camp are just the beginning, and with the right development, he could play a key role in Kansas City's return to greatness in 2026 and beyond.
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