Getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 28: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears have been loosely connected to splashy defensive additions this offseason. That includes ongoing speculation about a potential pursuit of Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby.
But in his latest mock draft, Daniel Jeremiah offered a different path.
Instead of projecting a blockbuster trade, Jeremiah has Chicago staying put at No. 25 and selecting Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods.
“Teams seem to be all over the map on how they rank this year’s defensive tackles,” Jeremiah wrote.
“Woods probably is the most explosive of the group and brings some juice on the interior.”
If the Bears want to improve up front without sacrificing premium draft capital, Woods presents a cost-controlled option with upside.
Bears Take Different Defensive Route Than Crosby Speculation
The Bears’ defensive front showed flashes in 2025, but it still lacked a true interior tone-setter.
While Crosby speculation focuses on adding an established edge rusher, Jeremiah’s projection emphasizes building through the draft and reinforcing the middle of the line.
Woods would line up next to Gervon Dexter and Grady Jarrett. He would give defensive coordinator Dennis Allen another athletic body inside.
He is not a classic one-gap penetrator or a pure two-gap anchor, but he has shown the ability to function in both roles.
His lower-body explosiveness jumps off the tape. He keeps his hands and feet in sync. He slides across a blocker’s face and works into gaps with impressive lateral quickness.
Jeremiah calling him the “most explosive” defensive tackle in the class speaks to that first step.
This defensive tackle group does not have a clear blue-chip name. In a class like that, upside matters, and Woods brings it.
What Peter Woods Would Bring to the Bears’ Defense
Woods is not just a lane-clogger. He plays on the move and looks to create disruption.
According to an NFL.com scouting report, he explodes his hips through contact while also showing a good feel for splitting double teams.
He reads blocks well and sheds quickly. That allows him to finish plays even when asked to hold his gap.
However, his biggest question mark is as a pass rusher.
Woods does not yet have a consistent quick-win move, and he is more effective helping collapse the pocket with others.
Still, his 2024 tape flashes real upside. He is young, can still build strength and projects as a potential long-term starter.
Adam Schefter said Tuesday that he does not expect Maxx Crosby to be traded, cooling much of the recent speculation tying him to Chicago.
That leaves other options.
The Bears could explore free agency with players like John Franklin-Myers or they can invest in the draft.
Last season, Chicago ranked 29th in the NFL in yards allowed per carry at 4.9 and 26th in rushing yards allowed per game at 131.4.
It may not be the blockbuster trade Bears fans dream about, but adding a powerful interior presence like Woods could directly address one of the defense’s biggest weaknesses.