Just as they were slated to do, the Kansas City Chiefs made two selections during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
They traded from ninth to sixth overall to take cornerback Mansoor Delane. Picking him wasn’t much of a surprise, but trading up to do so was a bit of one. Kansas City stood pat at No. 29 and selected defensive tackle Peter Woods.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid addressed the media following the conclusion of the first round, providing insight on each pick. While speaking about Woods, Reid gave him an unexpected and exciting comparison to an NFL legend.
Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid Compares Peter Woods to Aaron Donald
GettyDT Peter Woods
When asked what kind of impact he expects Woods to make as a rookie, Reid talked about Woods’ impressive athleticism that is comparable to Donald’s.
“He gives you that quickness,” Reid said of Woods. “I think that’s what he gives you, that quickness. You can say Aaron Donald-y type quick. Well, he’s not Aaron Donald yet. That’s a good challenge for him. But he has that ability inside, and you’re seeing in the league now guys that maybe aren’t the biggest guys, but they’re extremely quick and have great body control and can rush the passer. Shortest distance to the quarterback are those dudes right in there. He gives you a little bit of that, and we were looking for that, and he’s a great kid.”
That is certainly a lofty comparison, but Woods and Donald do share similar traits. As Reid alluded to, Woods is a force on the interior of the defensive line, and utilizes his quickness with great body control, just as Donald used to. Donald is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, recording 543 total tackles and 111 sacks throughout his 10-year NFL career.
Woods will have the opportunity to contribute right off the bat as a rookie, but also has the benefit of developing under Chris Jones, who is heading toward the Hall of Fame one day as well. Woods and Jones should make a dynamic duo, and Woods could take Jones’ place when Jones decides to call it a career. With Khyiris Tonga now in the mix and Omarr Norman-Lott returning from injury, the Chiefs are suddenly deep at the defensive tackle position.
Chiefs’ Day 2 Draft Options
GettyChiefs GM Brett Veach
Kansas City now has just one pick on Day 2 of the draft after trading away their No. 74 selection in the third round to move up and select Delane. The Chiefs are slated to pick at No. 40 overall, which is the eight selection of the second round.
It’s possible that general manager Brett Veach makes another trade and finds a way to get back into the third round. He could do that by trading down from the 40th pick, or packing together some of the Chiefs later selections.
If they stay put at 40, it’s a safe bet to assume they will go with either an edge rusher or wide receiver. Some options at EDGE include Zion Young, Cashius Howell, and T.J. Parker. Top names still available at receiver are Denzel Boston, Chris Brazzell II, and Germie Bernard. Don’t rule out a swerve, with the Chiefs potentially taking a safety, linebacker, or tight end.
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