The Kansas City Chiefs addressed their defensive tackle depth in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Clemson Tigers standout Peter Woods 29th overall. Woods put together a strong three-year stint with the Tigers, totaling 84 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, and two forced fumbles across 35 games. He slimmed down from around 320 pounds to 310 pounds in 2025, hoping to improve his stamina, but wasn’t as effective. He recorded 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 14 pressures, and two sacks in 12 games, earning Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-ACC honors.
Woods further slimmed down to 298 pounds during the pre-draft process. In his rookie season, he will compete for the top backup defensive tackle role against Omarr Norman-Lott. Due to his positional versatility, as he is capable of lining up as a nose tackle, three-tech, and an EDGE rusher, he could be in store for a key rotational role.
The Kansas City Chiefs ink a key backup with a 4-year deal
Jul 22, 2025; St. Joseph, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach walks down the hill to the fields during training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
According to Adam Schefter, the Chiefs have signed Peter Woods to a four-year rookie contract, per his agents Adie von Gontard and Ray Haija of YM APAA Sports. The deal is for a fully guaranteed $18 million with a $9 million signing bonus. As Schefter notes, Woods is said to have received the highest upfront percentage of his signing bonus in the history of the Chiefs’ first-round picks.
First-round pick Peter Woods and the Chiefs reached agreement today on a 4-year, $18 million fully guaranteed deal, per Adie von Gontard and Ray Haija of @ymapaasports. Woods is said to have received the highest upfront percentage of his signing bonus in Chiefs’ 1st-round… pic.twitter.com/kBaKj9QuSr
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 8, 2026
Mar 2, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; NFL Network Draft media analyst Lance Zierlein during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
“Woods is a young interior defender with room to add play strength as he fills out his frame. He’s not a pure one- or two-gap fit, but he’s capable in both schemes. 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. He lacks quick-win talent as a solo rusher, but he’s fully functional as part of a pocket-collapsing collective. His 2024 tape might be a better representation of his upside, but Woods clearly has the potential to become a solid starter in an even front.”
He projects that he Woods will eventually become a plus starter.