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To some, including many Cincinnati fans, Peter Woods in an ideal player to select with the tenth overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. He plays the run extremely well and even though he is not a dominant pass rusher, Woods is able to apply pressure on an above average level for his position.
(Video Credit to @BoltsDraftTalk on X)
However, his positive fit on the 2025 Bengals is far from a unanimous opinion. Other analysts have the Bengals skipping over Woods and him falling until later in the first round. Other mock drafts have woods outside of the first round all together. The reasons for his decrease in draft profile stem largely from the dropoff he’s perceived to have had while at Clemson in 2025
Entering the year last season, Woods was rated as high as the No. 1 overall prospect for the 2026 NFL draft. But as analysts have noted, his 2025 was not as productive, at least by PFF metrics. He had a career low PFF grade at 72.2. In fact, Woods’ PFF grades went down by year in Clemson (87.6 in 2023; 83.7 in 2024). In his last year there he totaled 40 tackles (3.5 for loss) with two sacks and six QB pressures.
The consensus picks for the Bengals in the first round appear to be edges Rueben Bain, Jr. and David Bailey as well as safety Caleb Downs. But so many teams in picks 1-9 need talented pass rushers and secondary help. There’s a very good chance, then, that none of Cincinnati’s top targets will be there at pick ten.
If that’s the case, skipping over Peter Woods would be a world class blunder no matter what the statistics say.
(Video Credit @NFL_DF on X)
Defensive tackles get so few chances to get favorable matchups or have an impact measurable in a box score. An example of this sort of phenomenon (albeit on a different scale) is that of DJ Reader, taken by the Texans in the fifth round after being an almost career college backup.
By the time he landed with the Bengals the contract he signed was for four years and $53 million, one of the largest free agent deals in franchise history at the time. His time in the Queen City was extremely successful and demonstrated just how important it is to be secure at the defensive tackle position when it comes to stopping the run.
If the trio of Bain, Bailey, and Downs is gone by the time the Bengals pick in the first round, Woods should absolutely be considered the top contender at that spot. His quickness for a 300 plus pound defensive tackle is eye-opening. He’s just 20 years old (turning 21 in March) and so still young and could get even better with time and NFL-level coaching.
And there’s no question that apart from linebacker, there is perhaps no other position group where the Bengals have gotten less production from than their defensive tackles. They gave up over 2,500 rushing yards (third worst) and a league worst 5.2 yards per carry. Kris Jenkins (53.3) and TJ Slaton (44.0) both ranked near the bottom of qualifying interior defenders per PFF. As a team they were 29th in rush DVOA.
(Video Credit to NFL)
Similar to drafting a player like Downs, bringing Woods into the fold would mean an instant upgrade at a position of definite need. He could likely start week one and that’s what the Bengals would love to see given how much work they have to do in order to have the defense help fuel a return to the playoffs next season.
