Should the Saints select Peter Woods in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft?
PFF’s Max Chadwick recently made a mock draft where he had the New Orleans Saints selecting Peter Woods, the defensive tackle from Clemson, at the eighth overall pick. Woods is an outstanding player who would instantly elevate the Saints defensive line, but wouldn’t be the ideal prospect in the first round.
First off, Woods is a game wrecker on the interior. He had a quiet 2025 season, only producing two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss; however, this doesn’t tell the full story. Woods was disruptive and frequently opened up opportunities for others on the defensive line.
The true junior excels at shedding blocks. He has outstanding hand usage, which can disengage him from a blocker, then he uses his absurd strength to throw them away. From there, it’s a free run at the ball carrier. This is why teams are often forced to double-team him, or the plays likely to be blown up.
Another thing that separates Woods from the average defensive tackle is his elite athleticism. He ranked number five on Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List and can reportedly bench press 490 pounds, squat 700, run a 4.86 40-yard dash, and has a vertical jump of 33 inches. Offensive linemen aren’t able to match this and his rapid first step, which gives them a disadvantage from the start.
Woods is amazing, but the Saints need an offensive playmaker
The Saints do need a defensive tackle; they drafted Brian Bresee in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he’s been good, but he needs to continue to improve. However, other needs outweigh the position. For instance, an offensive playmaker for Tyler Shough.
The primary goal for the Saints in 2026, beyond competing for the NFC South, should be figuring out what they have in Shough. They must know if he’s their quarterback of the future. To do this, they can’t give him any excuses. Under no circumstances should Shough be working with the caliber of weapons the Saints had in week 18. They need to prepare and build both top-end talent and depth. To do this, it would be wise to select a receiver/playmaker early.
A wide receiver is the most obvious first-round target for the Saints, but it’s important to leave the door open to them adding a running back or tight end. It truly doesn’t matter the position; what’s key is that they can be a reliable, dynamic weapon for Shough.
Although Peter Woods is an exceptional player, it may behoove the Saints to pass on him and select a playmaker offensively. Defensive tackle is a key need, but is trumped by other more important positions.