The Kansas City Chiefs discussed adding to the offense, but in the first round of the NFL Draft, they selected a pair of defensive gems. With the 29th pick, the Chiefs draft Clemson Defensive Tackle, Peter Woods.
Defensive Coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo coveted LSU Cornerback, Mansoor Delane. The Chiefs traded up to the sixth pick to land the All-American. With their second pick in round one, they found their replacement for Chris Jones by selecting Clemson Defensive Tackle Peter Woods.
The mammoth defensive tackle had a productive season at Clemson. He’s a mauler who can handle double teams, push the pocket back, solid against the run, and can get after the quarterback. Woods can become an instant starter inside next to Omar Norman-Lott. That means Jones can move back outside.
His biggest strength is his motor, and the Chiefs need help on the defensive line. I think Woods has a solid upside where he can be thrown into the mix as a starter, and the adjustment to the NFL should be a quick one for the second-team All-ACC player.
The three-tech interior lineman has the versatility to be a valuable commodity for Joe Cullen to develop. Some say his 2024 season was better than 2025, but at pick #29, he was a steal. Kansas City had a chance to move up to #25, held by the Chicago Bears, but the price was too steep.
At Clemson, the coaching staff struggled to develop him after he was ranked the #1 high school player in the country three years ago. That won’t happen in Kansas City.
In these two selections, General Manager Brett Veach had to solve some big holes on defense, and Woods is a key selection for Kansas City.
As we look ahead to Friday, the Chiefs will be 40th in the second round, which is their only pick that day. Barring a trade back into the round, Kansas City will focus on Day Three, where they have four picks.
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