“[Peter Woods] has all the talent in the world… Why are you still a caterpillar and not yet a butterfly? That’s my question.”
NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler evaluates Woods and the rest of the Chiefs draft class
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In the 2026 NFL Draft the Kansas City Chiefs had the rare and golden opportunity to select two players in the first round.
They ended up taking cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 6 overall, trading up three spots from No. 9 with the Cleveland Browns to get him. Then Kansas City picked defensive tackle Peter Woods at 29th overall.
Delane and Woods will hopefully be cornerstone pieces of the Chiefs’ defense for the next several years. Now that the dust has settled a bit, reactions to every pick made are coming in hot and heavy. Most have been positive in regards to Delane and Woods, but there are always question marks until the rookies prove themselves on the field.
While appearing on “Up & Adams” with Kay Adams on Tuesday, The Athletic’s draft expert Brugler admitted that Woods is immensely talented, but wants to see more out of him.
“Peter Woods will be interesting because he has all the talent in the world,” Brugler said. “I just want to see it more. Why are you still a caterpillar and not yet a butterfly? That’s my question with Peter Woods. You do see the talent, and when you grade to the flashes, I understand why he was a first-round pick. Now it’s up to those coaches to get the most out of him. He actually had more rushing yards last year than he did (quarterback) pressures. That’s not exactly ideal for a defensive tackle.”
“[Peter Woods] has all the talent in the world… Why are you still a caterpillar and not yet a butterfly? That’s my question.”
NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler evaluates Woods and the rest of the Chiefs draft class
Woods played in 35 games during his three-year collegiate career at Clemson. He broke out in 2024, recording three sacks, 28 total tackles (8.5 for loss), and one forced fumble. In 2025 he posted 30 total tackles (3.5 for loss) and two sacks. Although the numbers are similar, his overall performance was considered for disruptive in 2024, leading to some concern over why he regressed a bit in 2025.
GettyWR Cyrus Allen
Before getting to the topic of Woods, Brugler was asked by Adams if he believes the Chiefs should have prioritized drafting a wide receiver earlier.
“I think they feel good about where their receivers are for this year, at the very least,” Brugler said. “I think 2027 and beyond look a little dicey, and they have to do something about that. But, Jauan Jennings is still out there, and there are still a few vets that we could see them add to the mix at some point. But, I think they wanted to get better on defense, and that’s exactly what they did.”
Kansas City didn’t ignore the receiver position completely, selecting Cincinnati’s Cyrus Allen in the fifth round. In 2025 Allen caught 51 passes for 674 yards and a whopping 13 touchdowns. He is already considered to be a skilled route runner with good speed and separation ability.
The Chiefs definitely do have some decisions to make at receiver following the 2026 season. Rashee Rice is entering the final year of his contract, and multiple off-the-field issues make him a risk to extend long-term. Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton are talented, but have only really had success in short spurts.
Nick Roesch Nick Roesch covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, with a focus on the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Los Angeles Chargers. He previously covered the Chiefs for USA TODAY Sports' Chiefs Wire, and all 32 NFL teams for A to Z Sports. Roesch's career in sports media spans 10 years. More about Nick Roesch
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