Todd McShay explains why Peter Woods could be a 'rare' NFL Draft prospect

Todd McShay simply can’t take his eyes off of Peter Woods when watching Clemson film during the early preparation ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Even while evaluating film of elite Tigers pass rusher T.J. Parker, Woods — also a widely-projected potential Top-5 pick — just kept popping off the screen.

It’s why McShay went to bat for the 315-pound junior defensive tackle during a recent debate with fellow NFL Draft analyst Steve Muech about Woods’ current draft stock amid an episode evaluating multiple Clemson draft prospects last week on The McShay Show podcast.

“The thing I like about Woods – there’s a lot of things – he legitimately can play all along the line,” McShay said.

Muech argued Woods is far better suited to play inside at nose tackle as opposed to being a pass rusher, but acknowledged the Clemson big man could be utilized in different ways in the NFL.

“I want him to play inside more, that’s where he’s going to make his living. That’s where he’s going to be great,” Muech said. “I want him inside, I want him to wreck havoc, and I want him to really hone that craft and get great at that.”

While agreeing Woods’ future in the NFL will be with his hand in the ground, McShay refused the suggestion the Tigers big man is a one-dimensional player.

Todd McShay: Clemson DT Peter Woods ‘can be a terror’ at multiple positions in NFL

“I don’t disagree, I’m just saying, it’s interesting seeing a 315-pounder, 6-foot-3, who can be a terror as a one-technique, a three-technique and a five-technique, and actually … as a stand-up, outside edge rusher. … You don’t see that often, and doing it effectively,” McShay countered. “And yeah, not refined yet, but damn good body lean, rip, slap and his feet are as quick as his hands. … I promise you, when I put on the tape of (T.J.) Parker after, … it took a little adjusting because Parker is taller, long, straight-line power. But I actually thought the 315-pounder in someways had a little bit more burst, suddenness, … short-area quickness. I thought that he had lightning quick hands, shouldn’t move this well and be this sudden for his size. The body lean impressed me, feet are as quick as hands, plays his ass off too.”

McShay then highlighted that Woods has been protected to a certain extent at Clemson, only playing about 400 snaps, compared to more than 500 for Cleveland Browns rookie DT Mason Graham (Michigan) and 700-plus for New York Giants pass rusher Abdul Carter (Penn State), both of whom were Top 5 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.

“Refinement as a three-technique, his power, hand quickness, foot quickness in the short area (trenches), and the lean he has and the flexibility he has at that size, I think make him potentially rare,” McShay concluded.

Muech had no argument to that point, and even conceded Woods has the skill to grow as a pass rusher, which would only solidify his standing as the best defensive line prospect in next year’s NFL Draft.

“I wrote in my notes, there’s another gear for him as a pass rusher, or another level he just hasn’t reached yet,” Muech said. “He will, I firmly believe that. And it won’t surprise me if six months from now I sitting here and saying, ‘Yeah, Woods did what I thought he might do,’ which is move past every other defensive lineman in this draft, because he’s reached that other level. I just don’t see it quite yet. I don’t think he’s quite there yet.”