The Chicago Bears have done a very solid job in free agency so far. However, one glaring issue still lingers, and a new mock draft suggests a clear solution could be on the way.
In a recent mock draft from Yahoo Sports, analyst Charles McDonald projected Chicago to select Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods with the No. 25 overall pick. The fit is difficult to ignore, especially given the Bearsâ ongoing struggles in the interior.
âWoodsâ draft day slide stops here with the Bears adding a real home run swing at a position of desperate need,â McDonald wrote. âChicagoâs defensive line was not stout enough last season and, at his best, Woods can be an impact defender at multiple alignments along the interior.â
Itâs a projection that lines up directly with what showed up on tape in 2025.
Bears Interior DL Remains Clear Weakness
Despite multiple additions this offseason, the Bearsâ defensive front still lacks a consistent difference-maker on the interior. There were stretches last season where Chicago struggled to control the line of scrimmage, particularly against the run, and opposing offenses were able to step up in the pocket far too comfortably.
In 2025, Chicago finished near the bottom of the league against the run, allowing 134.5 rushing yards per game (27th) and 5.0 yards per carry (31st). They also struggled to generate consistent pressure, ranking 27th in pressure rate and 31st in total pressures.
The team brought in players like Neville Gallimore and added depth across the defense, but those moves feel more like patches than long-term answers. If Chicago is serious about taking another step after its NFC North title, it needs more disruption inside.
Thatâs where Woods enters the conversation.
At Clemson, Woods flashed the kind of traits that translate quickly to the NFL. He plays with natural leverage, shows strong hands at the point of attack, and has enough burst to collapse the pocket from the inside. More importantly, he isnât locked into one role. Woods has the flexibility to move across the defensive front, which would give coordinator Dennis Allen more options when building pressure packages.
Why Peter Woods Fits Bears Long-Term Plan
Beyond just filling a need, Woods would bring a different ceiling to a position group that has largely relied on rotational pieces in recent years.
Chicago has invested Day 2 picks and mid-tier signings into the defensive tackle spot, but it hasnât landed a true tone-setter. Woods has the profile to change that. His ability to anchor against double teams while still providing pass-rush upside makes him a potential three-down player early in his career.
That kind of presence would have a ripple effect across the entire defense.
Adding a disruptive interior force would take pressure off edge rushers like Montez Sweat and help players such as Gervon Dexter find more favorable matchups. It also aligns with the identity Chicago appears to be building under Ryan Poles, a roster that wins with physicality up front and depth across the board.
At pick No. 25, the Bears may not have access to the elite edge rushers at the top of the class. If thatâs the case, targeting a high-upside defensive tackle like Woods feels like a very logical pivot.
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