The Kansas City Chiefs were uber-aggressive in addressing their defensive needs early in the 2026 NFL Draft. Trading up three spots to get Mansoor Delane was a polarizing move, given that he probably would've been available at No. 9, but that wasn't the only controversial move made by GM Brett Veach.
With guys like Omar Cooper Jr., Keldric Faulk, and Kayde McDonald still on the board, the Chiefs used their No. 29 pick to get Clemson's Peter Woods. That's not necessarily a bad pick, but it may have been subpar asset management.
The Chiefs Didn't Play Their Cards Well with Peter Woods
There are always teams looking to trade into the final third of the first round. The Chiefs could've flipped the No. 29 pick to move down a couple of spots, and they probably would've still been able to land Woods. Instead, they may have reached to get two guys they could've had anyway.
The draft isn't just about finding the right player for your team. It's also about finding value, maximizing every selection, and using leverage to be in a better position in future drafts. That wasn't what Veach did.
According to The Athletic's Dane Brugler, Woods was the No. 35 player in this class. Per NFL Mock Draft Database's consensus big board, he was No. 31. Notably, McDonald was ahead of him in both rankings, so chances are that any team looking for a defensive tackle would've taken the Ohio State star before Woods.
Of course, perhaps the Chiefs thought he was a better fit for what defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo does, and that might be fair. There's even a strong chance he turns into a star for this team, maybe even taking the reins from Chris Jones. All of this will be futile and meaningless if that's the case.
If that doesn't happen, however, this selection will go down as a big mistake by the organization. They may not have gotten the best player at the position nor the best player available, and they didn't get a single additional asset, either.
The Chiefs are investing heavily in their defense, which makes sense, given that they rallied behind them to win their last two Super Bowls. However, ignoring their glaring offensive needs with most of their selections could also come back to haunt them, especially if Omar Cooper Jr., Denzel Boston, or any of the guys taken after Wood turns out to be a star.
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