First-round defensive lineman Peter Woods has absolutely exploded at Kansas City Chiefs training camp, looking every bit the part since the pads came on. The first defensive tackle taken in the 2026 NFL Draft, Woods has been the hottest name in St. Joe, showcasing an incredible blend of explosion and power that’s got everyone buzzing after ten practices in just two weeks of camp. This early performance is setting a serious tone.
Woods Is A Problem For Opposing Offenses Already
Since the pads dropped on Monday’s sessions, Woods has been giving guys fits, making plays all over the field. Remember that inside run where he just gave “Benson the business?” Yeah, that’s Peter Woods. He’s not just some big body, either, which is huge considering he bulked up to roughly 308 to 313 pounds for camp, a solid jump from under 300 in his final season at Clemson. That added weight hasn’t cost him an ounce of mobility, either. He’s showing off a skillset that leaves the door wide open for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to get truly exotic with his looks. Every eye in camp is going to be glued to Woods through the rest of the preseason, and honestly, why wouldn’t they be? This guy looks like he’s ready to make a serious impact, setting a high bar for his rookie campaign.
Secondary Struggles Create Early Headaches and Opportunity
While Woods is lighting it up, the Chiefs’ secondary could be a real cause for concern early in the season. We’re talking about cornerbacks Kristian Fulton and L’Jarius Sneed missing nearly the entire second week of practices, with Mansoor Delane’s status still unclear. That’s a huge chunk of experience sidelined, and outside of Nohl Williams, the entire cornerback unit struggled. Even veteran safeties Chammari Conner and Jaden Hicks had a tough time, like when Justin Fields hit Jeff Caldwell with a nice pass because Caldwell had a step on Conner. It’s not all doom and gloom though! Safety Alohi Gillman made a few nice plays, and rookie slot defender Jadon Canady, the first-year player from Oregon, really stepped up, earning more playing time with the first team as the week went on.
Meanwhile, on the defensive line, second-year defensive end Ashton Gillotte missed nearly all of the second week due to injury. This meant the primary workload for the first team went to Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Rookie R Mason Thomas has been getting some rotational snaps with the first team, but mostly working with the second squad. With Gillotte sidelined, Thomas’s performance and opportunity for more snaps as camp progresses could be a key storyline to watch.
This is just the start for these Chiefs in camp, and there’s a lot to clean up, especially in the secondary. But Peter Woods? He’s the real deal, and watching how he continues to develop through the preseason is gonna be can’t-miss TV. The team needs some of these younger guys to step up and quickly address those early concerns.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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