Peter Woods
Getty
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 16: Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans reacts during the second half against the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears have the chance to make some noise during the 2026 NFL Draft, especially now with two second-round picks after the DJ Moore trade. There are always a few prospects every year that fans can’t wrap their heads around how they fell to the second round, and in this year’s draft, it could be Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods.
“There is a definite chance that Woods goes in Round 1,” ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum wrote. “He was getting early-pick buzz last summer, but a lack of big-time production (only 33 tackles and two sacks last season) caused a lot of evaluators to cool on him. If there’s any shot I can get him in Round 2, I’m making it happen. Woods has explosive traits and could make a real difference on the interior. He might be a little undersized at 6-foot-3 and 298 pounds (with sub-32-inch arms), but I’m banking on potential, upside and value on Day 2. Now, I’m just crossing my fingers that he’s still there.”
The good news for the Bears is they aren’t afraid of an undersized prospect. In fact, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen prefers his defensive tackles to be right around that 6’3″ 300-lb range.
Bears Could Find Steal of the Draft, Next Jeffery Simmons With Peter Woods in Round 2
Peter Woods
GettyPeter Woods #11 of the Clemson Tigers looks on before Pro Day begins.
Despite the hiccup in 2025, Woods was an instant-impact addition for the Clemson Tigers, earning Freshman All-American honors, and quickly became one of the top defensive tackles in the nation. Bleacher Report compared his game to Tennessee Titans DT Jeffery Simmons, who has a similar build to Woods (6’4″ 305-lbs) and went on a tear last season, racking up 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 67 total tackles.
Woods also had a similar production compared to Simmons during their breakout seasons in college:
Jeffery Simmons: 20.07% TPS Win %, 25.0 Stops/Season, 88.6 Run D Grade
Peter Woods: 21.37% TPS Win %, 18.0 Stops/Season, 81.5 Run D Grade
“This is as translatable as it gets for a prospect,” GridironGrading wrote on X.
Chicago’s first pick in Round 2 is at 57, and there’s a slim chance Woods falls that far. However, if he’s available after Round 1 concludes, it’ll give general manager Ryan Poles time to work out a deal with one of the teams picking at the top of the second round, which includes the New York Jets (33), Arizona Cardinals (34), Titans (35), and Las Vegas Raiders (36).
Using the NFL’s trade value chart, picks 33-36 have an average value of 557.5. That means the Bears would likely have to send over both second-rounders (combined value of 630 points) and receive a fourth-round pick (90.5 average value) in return to move up to the top of the second round.
A potential trade could look like the following:
Bears receive: Picks 33, 103
Jets receive: Picks 57, 60
Is Woods Worth a Trade Up?
If he’s still available in the second round, absolutely. Woods is one of six 3-tech prospects since 2015 with a run stop win rate higher than 12% and a pass rush win rate higher than 20% in at least one college season. The list includes the following:
Quinnen Williams
Jalen Carter
Grady Jarrett
Mason Graham
Peter Woods
Omarr Norman-Lott
Adam Carter
The only P4 3-Tech prospects since 2015 with a run stop rate > 12.0% and a pass rush win rate > 20.0% in at least one college season. Omarr Norman-Lott (5.95 RAS) the athletic outlier from this group..
🔘 Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee 🔘 Peter Woods, Clemson 🔘 Mason Graham,
Woods is also still just 21 years old. He has three years of meaningful playing time at a big-time program, along with the upside and elite athletic profile that translates well in the NFL.
If anything, the more likely scenario is the Bears draft Woods straight up at pick 25 in the first round.
“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, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune wrote. “The best fit for Dennis Allen might be Clemson’s Peter Woods. Allen wants a disruptive guy in the middle.”
Several mocks have the Bears drafting Woods in Round 1, and who knows, if he’s available in Round 2, maybe Poles makes the bold move to trade up and draft him.