![\"Clemson](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775676884_576_Peter-Woods.jpg\")
Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods (11) before the game at Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday, November 29, 2025. \u00a9 Ken Ruinard \/ USA Today Co Inc SC \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClemson defensive lineman Peter Woods (11) before the game at Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday, November 29, 2025. \u00a9 Ken Ruinard \/ USA Today Co Inc SC \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
The Minnesota Vikings booted two starting defensive tackles from their roster this offseason, and that\u2019s usually something a franchise does before drafting a rookie replacement. So when Clemson\u2019s Peter Woods<\/a> found his way back into the Vikings\u2019 mock-draft orbit this week, well, it made sense.<\/p>\n Minnesota still needs interior defensive line help, and Peter Woods keeps surfacing as a logical first-round fit.<\/p>\n Pete Prisco did the honors, giving Minnesota a rest from the nonstop Dillon Thieneman<\/a> mock-draft takes.<\/p>\n Woods Checks Some Boxes for Minnesota at a DT Need<\/p>\n Yes, the Vikings need a defensive tackle. <\/p>\n Pete Prisco: Peter Woods to Min at 18<\/p>\n Two weeks remaining before the 2026 NFL Draft, and if Prisco has it right, Woods will be a Viking. He wrote<\/a> this week in a just-published mock draft, \u201cThe interior of their defensive line needs a boost after they let go of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Woods was dominant in 2024, but his play tailed off some last year. The talent is there.\u201d<\/p>\n Most mock drafts expect Minnesota to pick a safety in Round 1, either the aforementioned Thieneman from Oregon or Toledo\u2019s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.<\/p>\n Some others believe Minnesota could select a cornerback like Avieon Terrell<\/a> (Clemson) or Jermod McCoy (Tennessee).<\/p>\n The Bio for Woods<\/p>\n Woods is 6\u20192\u2033 and 300 pounds. He runs a 4.75 forty \u2014 pretty fantastic for a defensive tackle \u2014 and is known for his first-step explosion and flexibility. His swipe move is also impressive, and on the whole, he\u2019s a freak athlete for DT standards. Woods banked 5 sacks in the last two seasons at Clemson.<\/p>\n The Athletic\u2018s Dane Brugler on Woods<\/a>: \u201cWoods flashes the ability to win with quickness, strength and hand usage \u2014 and the next step in his development is for him to do so more consistently. He offers scheme diversity, although he projects best as a three-\/4i-technique DT.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA two-and-a-half-year starter at Clemson, Woods shuffled up and down the line in defensive coordinator Tom Allen\u2019s four-man front. After earning Freshman All-American honors in 2023, he received All-ACC honors in each of the last two seasons.\u201d<\/p>\n Woods is also young; he just turned 21.<\/p>\n Brugler added, \u201cHe was tabbed as a potential top-five draft pick entering his junior season, but he struggled to match that hype in 2025, posting up-and-down tape and poor production (14 pressures, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks over 12 games). Draft projections for Woods will depend on a team\u2019s willingness to grade to his flashes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe moves with big-man twitch and has the foot quickness to elude blocks in tight quarters. However, for a player with his explosive traits, he doesn\u2019t have many quick wins on his tape and needs to learn how to diversify his rush approach.\u201d<\/p>\n Vikings\u2019 DT Setup for 2026<\/p>\n It\u2019s not breaking news, but it\u2019s unfinished business: the Vikings need a defensive tackle. The franchise parted ways with two starters last month, cutting Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave<\/a>, a pair that played over 1,300 snaps in Brian Flores\u2019s 2025 defense.<\/p>\n Without Woods, a different rookie, or a free agent like Christian Wilkins or D.J. Reader, Minnesota would roll into 2026 with this interior defensive line group:<\/p>\n Jalen Redmond<\/p>\n Levi Drake Rodriguez<\/p>\n Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins<\/p>\n Elijah Williams<\/p>\n Taki Taimani<\/p>\n Jaylon Hutchings<\/p>\n That might work; it might not. The DT unit<\/a> is one Redmond injury away from disaster. Therefore, an extra defensive tackle is probably on the way. <\/p>\n Other Draft DT Options<\/p>\n It\u2019s a safe bet to assume the Vikings leave the draft with a defensive tackle; it\u2019s just unclear if Woods will be the guy. If not, these are the DT options before the end of Round 4, according to the Consensus Big Board in early April:<\/p>\n Kayden McDonald (Ohio State)<\/p>\n Caleb Banks (Florida)<\/p>\n Lee Hunter (Texas Tech)<\/p>\n Christen Miller (Georgia)<\/p>\n Domonique Orange (Iowa State)<\/p>\n Gracen Halton (Oklahoma)<\/p>\n Darrell Jackson Jr. (Florida State)<\/p>\n Kaleb Proctor (Southeastern Louisiana)<\/p>\n Chris McClellan (Missouri)<\/p>\n Dontay Corleone (Cincinnati)<\/p>\n Xzavian Harris (Mississippi)<\/p>\n Rayshaun Benny (Michigan)<\/p>\n Zane Durant (Penn State)<\/p>\n Vikings fans have taken a shine to Hunter from Texas Tech because he should be available at Minnesota\u2019s 49th pick, and he\u2019s huge at over 330 pounds, known for stopping the run as a true-blue nose tackle.<\/p>\n Brugler noted on Hunter: \u201cHunter doesn\u2019t have the pass-rush skill set to consistently impact the quarterback, but he is instinctive as a run defender and has heavy hands to make stops at the line of scrimmage. He projects as a scheme-diverse, two-gapping nose.\u201d<\/p>\n The Vikings have drafted three players from Clemson in the last decade: safety Jayron Kearse, cornerback Mackensie Alexander, and cornerback Andrew Booth<\/a>. So, too, did elite DT Dexter Lawrence<\/a>, a trade candidate, go to Clemson. Maybe a Woods\/Lawrence twosome materializes at some point. <\/p>\n \t\t![\"Peter](\"https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/USATSI_24088230.jpg\")
Clemson football defender Peter Woods speaks with reporters at the Smart Family Media Center, sharing thoughts with media members Aug 27, 2024, in Clemson, South Carolina, as the Tigers prepare for a high-profile matchup against Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium later that week in Atlanta. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY NETWORK<\/p>\n![\"Peter](\"https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Peter-Woods.jpg\")
Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods (11) lines up during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium, working against the offensive front Sep 6, 2025, in Clemson, South Carolina, as he battles in the trenches during game action with teammates surrounding the line of scrimmage. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images<\/p>\n![\"Brian](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Brian-Flores-3.jpg\")
Sep 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium, tracking defensive alignments and communicating with players as New England edges Arizona in a close early-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/baker1.jpg\")
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