Draft Dreamer: Peter Woods

A new NFL Champion, the Seattle Seahawks, has been crowned, and we’re deep into draft season. This is the chance for all teams to reset and fans to renew their hopes. If you have followed my work, then you know this is my favorite time of year, and it’s never too early to start breaking down NFL Draft prospects. This class is packed with players who will make an impact at the next level. I will cover every one of them, from the big dudes in the trenches to the erasers patrolling the secondary. Let’s get started with a prospect at the cornerback position who I expect to stand out early in the draft process and make an impact in the NFL right away: Peter Woods of the Clemson Tigers.

The Background

Peter Woods was a four-star cornerback recruit for the Thompson Warriors in Alabaster, Alabama. Woods would be an instant star for the Warriors and put the football world on notice that he would be one of the best. As a freshman, he would help Thompson to a state championship in Alabama’s 7A class. Woods played in 13 games, with totals of 54 tackles, 35 solo stops, 64.8% solo rate, 15 TFLs, seven sacks, seven QB hurries, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. For his sophomore season, he would once again lead Thompson to a Class 7A state championship, but he only played in six games due to a left leg injury. Woods would return for the state championship, recording five tackles & one1 TFL. On the season, he would register totals of 30 tackles, 18 solo stops, 60% solo rate, eight TFLs, 3½ sacks, six QB hurries, and one fumble recovery.

He would return fully healthy for his junior year and put together his best high school season, leading the Warriors to a 3rd consecutive Class 7A state championship. Woods played in 14 total games while registering 92 total tackles, 55 solo stops, 59.7% solo rate, with 26 TFLs, 11 sacks, 30 QB hurries, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one blocked kick, one interception returned 45 yards for a touchdown, and two PBUs. Woods and the Thompson Warriors would win a fourth consecutive state title in his senior season. He would play in 12 games and basically be double-teamed, still managed to record  83 total tackles, 51 solo stops, 61.4% solo rate, 21 TFLs, eight sacks, 14 QB hurries, with two fumble recoveries, and two PBUs.

Woods would finish his high school career with 45 games played, 259 tackles, 159 solo stops, 61.3% solo rate, 70 TFLs, 29½ sacks, 57 QB hurries, one interception returned 45 yards for a touchdown, five PBUs, two forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, one blocked kick, and four state championships. His four state championships with Thompson would make them the first team to ever accomplish that feat. Woods would be named the 7A Lineman of the Year in Alabama as a senior and earn a trip to the Under Armour All-American Game. He was clearly the most disruptive player of the week and game, as he had multiple TFLs and a batted pass that led to a pick-six. Woods had 35 offers in hand but would select Clemson, which has a track record of producing NFL defensive linemen.

Woods would be named a Freshman All-American by multiple sites, playing in 12 games, making two starts, with 26 total tackles, 13 solo stops, 50% solo rate, 2½ TFLs, and one forced fumble. He would follow that up with a sophomore campaign where he split time playing defensive tackle and defensive end. Woods played in 11 games, with ten starts, and produced 28 total tackles, 18 solo stops, 64.2% solo rate, with 8½ TFLs, three sacks, and one forced fumble. In his junior season, he would play and start all 12 games, while recording 30 total tackles, 20 solo stops, 66.6% solo rate, 3½ TFLs, two sacks, and one PBU. Was named 2nd Team All-American, the first Clemson player at the position since Christian Wilkins in 2018.

Woods would decide to forgo his senior year and enter the draft, being one of the most highly sought-after interior defensive line prospects in this class. He concluded his Tigers career with 35 games played, 24 starts, 84 total tackles, 41 solo stops, 48.8% solo rate, 14½ TFLs, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and 1 PBU. His college career numbers aren’t indicative of the true impact that Woods had each week. 

Player Breakdown

Woods is going to be one of the top interior defensive line prospects in this class, and teams are going to do their due diligence on him. He measures in at 6’3”/310 lbs and is still filling out his frame. Woods' game is centered around his ability to win with power, leverage, and explosiveness. He has good lateral quickness and keeps his hands and footwork in sync when working across blockers into the gaps. Woods has good anticipation and feel for splitting double teams. He has short arms, which allows blockers to crowd his space, but he’s a brawler and has good block-shedding quickness. When blockers lock onto him, he can get washed down the line, but he shoots his hands quickly and has a variety of hand moves to keep his chest clean. 

He’s not the best pass rusher in one-on-one situations, but has upside from the interior when surrounded with solid pass rushers. Has the versatility and experience to play both inside and on the edge, but excels when inside, where he can attack offensive guards. Woods possesses unique movement fluidity for a man his size. Has a relentless motor and effort to chase down ball carriers seemingly easily. Will take some miscalculated chances and misses from time to time. His tackling can be a bit sloppy when he gets too aggressive and needs to expand his pass rush toolbox. There is no question about his talent and abilities, but the production didn’t match in college. Woods has great instincts and flashes the big-play abilities, but needs to be more consistent to be a factor at the next level.

NFL & Fantasy Projection

When it comes to draft time, teams will be looking at Wood’s talent and potential. The question is whether they can unlock his production, which Clemson could not? He has all the talent and potential, just needs good coaching and a polish to his overall game. Woods has Top 15 pick upside and should be selected in the 1st round of this year's draft. His best fit will come in a 4-3 scheme that is aggressive upfront and can use him to take advantage of matchups. When he’s clicking on all cylinders, he’s as good as anyone and can be a major disruptor. That upside is what teams will fall in love with and get him drafted on day one.

Wood’s fantasy value is at its max in position-specific leagues where you are required to start defensive tackles. He is one of the Top 5 interior defensive linemen in this draft class and will likely be one of the first ones selected in fantasy drafts. Woods being selected early means he’ll get every opportunity to play early. Hopefully, that comes with a team that can unlock his production to match the potential. In rookie drafts, I would look at the middle rounds to draft him, as I believe that maximizes his value. Getting fantasy production from an interior defensive lineman can be like looking for a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, so don’t go chasing and reaching early in rookie drafts. I like everything I have seen in Woods and believe he’s going to be a star at the next level, but be patient.

Thanks for reading my article. I am a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers of America). Follow me on Twitter at @HollywoodTitan, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub — I’m user KingTitan1 — and tune in each week and listen to IDP Nation and Devy IDP Grind, the podcasts that I co-host, on several different platforms. Feel free to email or dm me with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy