The Minnesota Vikings got a jolt of excitement in the 2025 offseason after signing former Pro Bowl defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, who joined as cap casualties from their previous teams. However, Allen and Hargrave are cap casualties again this year after an underwhelming tenure in purple. To fill the void they leave along the defensive line, the Vikings should be drafting young players like Clemson’s Peter Woods.
Allen and Hargrave peaked in the first week of the season, when they wreaked havoc on the new-look Chicago Bears’ interior offensive line. It was all downhill after that. Second-year UDFA Jalen Redmond finished with 12 tackles for loss and six sacks, usurping both veterans.
While it looks like Redmond will be in Minnesota for the foreseeable future, with the team placing an exclusive-rights tender on him, the question remains who will line up alongside him at defensive tackle. Levi Drake-Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins showed flashes of potential during the season, but this team still needs a bona fide solution in the interior.
Given how they struck out with older defensive tackles last season, the Vikings should look to the draft to add youth at the position. At 6’2”, 298 lbs., with shorter arms than typically seen, Woods may look a little undersized to play DT. Still, he makes up for that with his raw athletic ability and strength. It’s all there on the tape.
Peter Woods has an incredible first step for a player of his size, getting off the line so fast that opposing linemen have to play catch-up. He also has incredible body control and mobility, allowing him to shoot gaps that nobody at his size should be able to get into.
His athletic testing numbers are equally impressive, including a verified 4.86 40-yard dash, 490 lb. bench press, and 700 lb. squat. Woods has the strength defensive coordinators love to see from a man of his size.
Woods also has the rare ability to be a true sideline-to-sideline player, covering ground quickly for someone of his size. He has shown the ability to chase down much smaller ball carriers with ease.
The issue comes when he attempts to gamble in the backfield against the run. He often tries to shoot gaps he shouldn’t be in, causing running backs to find space and get upfield. Even when he looks to recover and make tackles, he can be prone to trying to make the big play and overrunning ball carriers.
Last season, when Minnesota benched Ivan Pace Jr. for Eric Wilson, they were setting a precedent of favoring reliable players who follow their assignments over players who tend to gamble. If the Vikings draft him, Peter Woods would have to limit this trait.
Woods has an impressive hand strike when rushing the passer, and when he can time his hands correctly, they land on opposing linemen with a game-changing amount of force.
The problem comes after this: He doesn’t really have a second move. While he can develop more than his initial burst and swipe, he will need refinement at the next level. He will also need to learn how to beat double teams, something he really struggled against last season.
Woods flashed loads of potential during his time at Clemson, playing all across the defensive line and showcasing the versatility that Brian Flores loves in his players. While he was a highly touted recruit before committing to Clemson, Woods hasn’t stuffed the stat sheet, recording just five sacks in his three years in college, and regressing in his final season to finish with just two sacks and 3.5 TFL’s when presented with more opportunities.
Unfortunately for Woods, the issue may not have been his talent but rather Clemson’s scheme. They rarely put him in positions to utilize his pass-rushing skills to their fullest, and he occasionally serves as a two-gap defensive tackle.
Although he was productive relying on raw talent for three seasons at Clemson, Woods will have to refine his technique to make an impact at the next level. While he has all the tools, he will need to actualize them and add some savvy and technical skills to his incredible physical traits.
Clemson’s scheme wasn’t a good fit for his style of play. However, at some point, talent should lead to production. The lack of it is definitely a red flag that has taken Wood’s position as the undisputed DT1 in the draft down a notch.
Peter Woods has all the tools and could be a monster in this defensive unit. However, that will only happen if he buys in and shows a willingness to curb some of his reckless tendencies while developing his skills. Still, given just how high the upside is, it’s a risk the Vikings should consider taking if they are determined to add to an already fun and young defensive line.