Could Clemson’s Peter Woods Be the Disruptor Carolina’s Defense Needs?
Don’t look now, but the Carolina Panthers are quietly climbing out of the defensive basement they occupied just a year ago. After fielding what was statistically the worst defense in NFL history last season, the 2025 version of this unit has clawed its way to 18th in the league. That’s not elite, but it’s a massive leap forward - and a sign that the rebuild on that side of the ball is starting to take shape.
Still, if you watch this team closely, you know the front seven remains a work in progress. Depth is thin, and while Derrick Brown continues to anchor the interior, the Panthers could use another difference-maker next to him - someone who can consistently collapse the pocket and plug up running lanes. That’s where Clemson’s Peter Woods enters the conversation.
In a recent mock draft, Dane Brugler projected the Panthers to grab Woods with the 15th overall pick. And it’s not hard to see why.
Woods is widely considered the top interior defensive lineman in the upcoming draft class. He’s got the frame, the athleticism, and the kind of upside that could make him a force in the trenches at the next level.
At 20 years old, Woods just wrapped up his junior season at Clemson with 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a couple of sacks. Solid numbers, though not quite the breakout many expected after a strong sophomore campaign where he posted 28 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks. His freshman year in 2023 saw him flash early potential with 26 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
While his 2025 production didn’t quite match the trajectory he seemed to be on after Year 2, the tools are all still there. He’s a nimble big man - quick off the snap, with the kind of movement skills that are rare for a player his size.
The knock on him right now is that he’s had a lot of “almost” plays - those near-sacks, those pressures that don’t quite get home. But with some refinement and the right coaching, those almosts can turn into game-changing moments.
Carolina dipped into free agency last spring to bring in Bobby Brown and Tershawn Wharton, both solid rotational pieces. But neither has emerged as a true game-wrecker. Pairing a talent like Woods with Derrick Brown could give the Panthers a young, physical interior duo capable of dictating the line of scrimmage - especially against the run, where Woods projects to thrive early in his NFL career.
And the Panthers might have the flexibility to be aggressive. With roughly $30 million in projected cap space and the potential to free up more through roster moves, Carolina could continue to retool the defense through both the draft and free agency. If they can land a player like Woods in April and supplement that with a savvy veteran addition or two, this defense could take another big leap in 2026.
For now, the Panthers are 7-6 and very much in the thick of the NFC South race, sitting just a half-game behind the division-leading Buccaneers. That’s a testament to how far this team has come - and how close they might be to turning the corner.
Next up: a matchup with the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. A win there would go a long way in keeping the playoff dream alive.
But looking ahead, the idea of adding a high-upside disruptor like Peter Woods to this improving defense? That might be the kind of move that helps Carolina not just sneak into the postseason - but stay there for years to come.