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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 have done a very solid job in free agency so far. However, one glaring issue still lingers, and a new mock draft suggests a clear solution could be on the way.
In a recent mock draft from Yahoo Sports, analyst Charles McDonald projected Chicago to select Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods with the No. 25 overall pick. The fit is difficult to ignore, especially given the Bears’ ongoing struggles in the interior.
“Woods’ draft day slide stops here with the Bears adding a real home run swing at a position of desperate need,” McDonald wrote. “Chicago’s defensive line was not stout enough last season and, at his best, Woods can be an impact defender at multiple alignments along the interior.”
It’s a projection that lines up directly with what showed up on tape in 2025.
ChicagoBearsHQ
Clemson DL Peter Woods is one of the most polarizing prospects in the NFL Draft. Some mocks have the #Bears taking him in Round 1.
Bears Interior DL Remains Clear Weakness
Despite multiple additions this offseason, the Bears’ defensive front still lacks a consistent difference-maker on the interior. There were stretches last season where Chicago struggled to control the line of scrimmage, particularly against the run, and opposing offenses were able to step up in the pocket far too comfortably.
In 2025, Chicago finished near the bottom of the league against the run, allowing 134.5 rushing yards per game (27th) and 5.0 yards per carry (31st). They also struggled to generate consistent pressure, ranking 27th in pressure rate and 31st in total pressures.
The team brought in players like Neville Gallimore and added depth across the defense, but those moves feel more like patches than long-term answers. If Chicago is serious about taking another step after its NFC North title, it needs more disruption inside.
That’s where Woods enters the conversation.
At Clemson, Woods flashed the kind of traits that translate quickly to the NFL. He plays with natural leverage, shows strong hands at the point of attack, and has enough burst to collapse the pocket from the inside. More importantly, he isn’t locked into one role. Woods has the flexibility to move across the defensive front, which would give coordinator Dennis Allen more options when building pressure packages.
Why Peter Woods Fits Bears Long-Term Plan
Beyond just filling a need, Woods would bring a different ceiling to a position group that has largely relied on rotational pieces in recent years.
Chicago has invested Day 2 picks and mid-tier signings into the defensive tackle spot, but it hasn’t landed a true tone-setter. Woods has the profile to change that. His ability to anchor against double teams while still providing pass-rush upside makes him a potential three-down player early in his career.
That kind of presence would have a ripple effect across the entire defense.
Adding a disruptive interior force would take pressure off edge rushers like Montez Sweat and help players such as Gervon Dexter find more favorable matchups. It also aligns with the identity Chicago appears to be building under Ryan Poles, a roster that wins with physicality up front and depth across the board.
At pick No. 25, the Bears may not have access to the elite edge rushers at the top of the class. If that’s the case, targeting a high-upside defensive tackle like Woods feels like a very logical pivot.