Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods received a bold draft projection.
Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods will likely go early in the first round of the draft. In a recent mock draft by The Athletic, Woods is projected to land with the Cincinnati Bengals with the 10th overall pick in the NFL Draft.
"The Bengals had many problems this year, and one of the biggest was a near-complete inability to stop the run. Woods’ junior year at Clemson was hardly his best, but his athleticism combined with the power he’s able to generate off the snap gives off Mason Graham-level flashes. He could be elite if he finds consistency," Nick Baumgardner writes.
Woods had a phenomenal sophomore campaign and entered the season as a top-five prospect in the draft.
However, Woods didn't play as well in his junior season, which has dropped his stock. He is still one of the most talented players in the draft, and teams could draft him early for his potential.
In the 2025 season, Woods had 30 total tackles, two sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss. He was much more dominant in 2024, with 28 total tackles, three sacks, and 8.5 tackles for loss.
He could be a great fit for the Bengals' defense as they could use someone to stop the run and help generate a pass rush. Cincinnati's defense has struggled to stop the run and will need another pass rusher, as Trey Hendrickson is a free agent.
Woods could come in and be an impactful defensive lineman for the Bengals, on a defense that needs a ton of improvement. Their offense has done its part with quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins leading the way.
It's the Bengals' defense that continues to let them down every year. While Cincinnati drafted edge rusher Shemar Stewart in the first round in 2025, their line still needs a ton of work, and Woods could be a homerun selection.
Clemson will need to replace Woods on their defense and have a lot of work to do to improve ahead of the 2026 season.
The Tigers went 7-6 and had a disappointing campaign, but will see one of their stars, Woods, go in the first round.