The Kansas City Chiefs are rolling with a perfect 4-0 record, sitting atop the AFC, and it ain’t just the usual suspects making noise. We’re seeing a bunch of new faces stepping up, and one of them is rookie defensive tackle Peter Woods, the 30th-overall pick from this spring’s NFL Draft. He’s been on the field for a ton of snaps in his first four career games, and while the production hasn’t been off the charts yet, the film shows flashes that tell you why the Chiefs are gonna keep betting on this dude.
Woods Is Already a Run-Stopping Problem
When you dig into Woods’ early grades, it’s clear where he’s absolutely shining: run defense. He pulled in a killer 71% grade for his run defense this season, and that’s where he’s looked his best so far. This guy ain’t your old-school, traditional run stuffer, though. He’s using that athleticism to make plays. He’s a point-of-attack strongman with serious leverage, making it super tough for anyone to move him off his spot. Remember that trap run against the Raiders? Woods slammed into Pro Bowl Center Tyler Linderbaum in the backside A-gap, stood his ground like a brick wall, and literally tossed Linderbaum aside to blow up the whole play. That’s strength, plain and simple.
But it’s not just brute force; it’s explosion too. Lining up as a backside three-technique against a zone left, Woods exploded out of his stance so fast the right tackle didn’t even have a shot at blocking him. The result? A tackle for loss, showing off that quickness off the snap that can make him “unblockable” on certain plays. He’s still got some technique work ahead, no doubt, but beating one-on-one run blocks? That’s where Woods is dominating right now. He might be late off the ball sometimes, but his lateral movement and strength let him beat reach blocks and shut down lanes for running backs. One-on-one, this guy is a real problem in the run game.
Areas for Growth and What’s Next
Now, it’s not all highlight reels just yet. Where Woods has definitely struggled is in his one-on-one pass rush. Out of 17 true one-on-one pass-rush snaps, he’s only won 5, which is about a 29% win rate. Plus, he’s only got three pressures recorded all season, with zero quarterback hits and zero sacks. He’s also been on the field for 48 plays graded as “Neutral,” where the slide protection went his way or it was a play-action or RPO that took the defense out of the equation.
But don’t let those numbers fool you on overall impact. Beyond pressures, Woods has five recorded impact plays. We’re talking impressive plays in the run game, batted passes, and just high-level effort plays that make a difference. He can definitely get better at handling double teams, but the raw talent and the run-stopping prowess are undeniable. The Chiefs are 4-0, and Woods is a big part of why their defense is starting strong. With that kind of raw power and quickness in the run game, expect to see Woods keep developing throughout the season, refining his technique and hopefully bringing that same energy to the pass rush. The flashes are there, and this rookie is only going to get better.
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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