ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KCTV) - Kansas City Chiefs first-round pick Peter Woods has been one of the standout performers at training camp this season.
The 29th overall pick out of Clemson was one of two first-round picks made by general manager Brett Veach during this April’s draft, but he’s [been the bigger contributor](https://www.kctv5.com/2026/08/06/rookie-mansoor-delane-deals-with-shoulder-injury-heres-what-steve-spagnuolo-says-hes-missing/) as the Chiefs ramp up toward preseason action in St. Joseph.
Last week, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo called the training camp practices without pads “pajama football.” Woods, listed at 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, said he’s enjoyed the pads going on this week as the Chiefs get closer to the real thing.
“It was very relieving,” Woods said Thursday of padded practices this week. “I was very excited to get the pads on and actually play real football for the first time in almost a year. It was fun.”
Woods was viewed as one of the top prospects in college football entering the 2025 season at Clemson. A down year for him and the Tigers saw him slip down draft boards and into the Chiefs’ 29th pick, which Kansas City acquired in the [Trent McDuffie trade in March](https://www.kctv5.com/2026/08/05/trent-mcduffie-claims-he-was-caught-off-guard-by-chiefs-trade-sending-him-los-angeles/).
At training camp, Woods has been by the side of All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones, trying to learn how to become the next Chiefs great in the trenches.
“In my opinion, that’s a future Hall-of-Famer that I have the opportunity to get to learn from and play beside and play with,” Woods said of the 32-year-old veteran who enters his 11th season in the NFL this year. “Every opportunity that we’ve been given to have one-on-one time together, talk through things and bounce knowledge off each other, he’s been super willing and almost even initiating for that to happen.
“I’m very appreciative of him and who he’s been in this process for me.”
On Monday, Chiefs right guard Trey Smith said the “sky is the limit” for Woods. Spagnuolo said Thursday Woods has been impressive during training camp, while still having things to work on.
“Pete’s one thick good-looking dude,” Spagnuolo said. “He looks the way d-linemen are supposed to look. But I think he’s got a ways to go.”
That ways to go Spagnuolo spoke of includes understanding the way the Chiefs do things.
“I’m talking about all the little things, running in and out of the huddle, all that stuff,” Spagnuolo said. “And that’s for all the rookies and Pete’s right in there with that crew. But when he does get his feet right, he does keep his pad level low, he’s a pretty good football player. It’s our job to get him to do that every down and he’s a willing guy.
“I like him, he’s a smart football player.”
Woods said the little details are what he’s working on to maximize his success when games begin.
“I’m always trying to find ways to get better, just being very critical of myself,” he said. “I’d say I’ve learned a lot of how important the little details are. Footwork, hand placement, just the little things in this league can get you beat.”
At Clemson, Woods was a First Team All-ACC selection and AP Second Team All-American in 2025 as a junior for the Tigers. Still, in the NFL he said more than his natural talent will be required to be successful.
“It’s not always about raw strength, power, potential and things of that nature,” Woods said. “So just really honing in on the little details is something that I’ve learned.”
Woods and the Chiefs will get back to padded practices on Friday.
“That’s what football’s about,” he said. “We hitting and it just feels good. That’s why I play the game so I can be physical and violent.”
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