Peter Woods
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: General manager Ryan Poles of the Chicago Bears speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears should draft a defensive tackle in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
It’s arguably the team’s top need, and options are thin on the open market. That, and taking a look at recent Super Bowl winners, they all had dominant defensive tackles:
Now, going back to the Bears, let’s take a look at the current situation. Teams have inquired about Gervon Dexter Sr.’s availability. This doesn’t mean the Bears would trade him away, just wanted to point that out. The only other DT Chicago has under contract besides Dexter is Grady Jarrett, who’ll be 33 years old by the time next season rolls around.
General manager Ryan Poles said during the NFL Combine that, “Philosophically, I feel the same, it’s going to be best player available. On my board, I have yellow tags where we need to fill in, but at the same time, I do believe in the early rounds, you really do have to stick to the best player available.”
At first glance, it makes sense, but with the increasing importance of elite defensive tackles in the NFL and the Bears’ obvious need, could ‘best player available’ suddenly turn into ‘best defensive tackle available?’
If so, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune highlighted one DT prospect to keep an eye on.
Keep An Eye on Clemson Defensive Tackle Peter Woods For the Bears
Peter Woods
GettyPeter Woods #11 of the Clemson Tigers chases LaNorris Sellers #16 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first quarter.
Biggs pinned Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods as a name to keep an eye on in the first round:
“There’s a serious need at both positions (defensive end & defensive tackle), but if you’re ordering one over the other, tackle has to be on top. Considering it’s a deep draft for edge rushers — and not as deep at tackle — this is a good place to start when wondering about the No. 25 pick. Some college evaluators I spoke with believe there could be a good clump of defensive linemen on the board when the Bears’ pick comes around. The best fit for Dennis Allen might be Clemson’s Peter Woods. Allen wants a disruptive guy in the middle. It’s why the team signed Jarrett a year ago and why it initially played Turner on the inside.”
Woods fits what Allen desires in a defensive tackle: explosive, around the 300-pound cusp, and could get to the quarterback.
Daniel Jeremiah
Peter Woods 6024 298 9 1/8 hand 31 1/4 arm 76 3/8 wing
He’s one of four prospects included in The Athletic’s “4 freakish NFL combine athletes to know,” noting, “Clemson’s explosive lineman is a fascinating blend of size and speed, a 310-pounder with a reported 4.86 40-yard dash.”
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein also had this to say on Woods.
“He plays with good lower-body explosiveness into initial contact, keeping his hands and feet synced to work around blocks when needed. He’s more of an active brawler than double-team eating tree stump. Shorter arms allow blockers to crowd his frame and force him to fight harder at the point. Yet, his ability to overtake and win as the rep progresses is impressive.”
Bigger Question For the Bears is Not Whether They’ll Draft a DT in Round One, it’s Whether Woods Would be Available at No. 25
It’s hard to believe the Bears wouldn’t draft a defensive tackle in the first round, even if the team makes some acquisitions during free agency. The bigger question is whether Woods would be available by the time Chicago is on the clock with the 25th overall pick.
“Whether Woods makes it to No. 25 is a good question,” Biggs wrote. “Draft boards are a long way from being set, but an informal poll of college scouts I chatted with seemed to indicate it might be unlikely.”
The Bears need a difference-maker on the interior, and Woods believes he’s that guy.
“I’m a game disrupter,” Woods said during an interview at the NFL Combine. “I’m the type of guy … that causes offensive coordinators to lose sleep at night planning for me. You don’t really know where I’m going to line up, you don’t know where I’m going to be, but you’ve got to respect it and you’ve got to know where I’m at at all times.”
Woods talked about the possibility of getting drafted by the Bears, saying, “It’s going to be a blessing to get drafted by anybody. One thing about Chicago is I think back to my days of playing Madden, you have a dream to play for any team in the NFL. I played Madden with Jay Cutler and some of those Bears legends, that could go for any team, but it’ll be a blessing to be drafted by any team in the National Football League, or the Chicago Bears, or any team that picks me.”
He should be a name to keep an eye on for the Bears in the first round, even if he doesn’t fall to the 25th pick.