The NFL offseason is set to hit another level with the 2025 season officially over. The next phase is finding ways to improve the team, and the NFL draft is a huge avenue to do so. The annual NFL scouting combine will take place in Indianapolis, IN, from Feb. 23 to March 2, offering the Chicago Bears a chance to start keeping tabs on potential targets.
On Wednesday, the NFL revealed the 319 prospects who got invited to the combine. The Bears have some holes that need to be plugged in, and the defensive front is one of them.
There will be plenty of defensive linemen in attendance, and Peter Woods from Clemson University will be one of the many who should be on the Bears' radar.
Peter Woods Should Be on Bears' Radar at the Scouting Combine
Woods had a better 2024 season than 2025, but that's why the Bears will even have a chance to draft him. The Alabama native is twitchy (315 pounds) for his size and can get uphill in a flash. He has quick feet that allow him to evade blockers with a high motor that shows up on film.
In 35 collegiate games, Woods had 84 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, and two forced fumbles. He is an athletic defensive tackle who has all the tools to excel at the next level. His best days are ahead of him.
The Bears will have Gervon Dexter Sr. entering the 2026 season on the final year of his rookie deal. They also have Grady Jarrett on the books for the 2026 campaign, but have an out after the season that would save Chicago $12.75 million in cap space, per Spotrac.
Fast forward to next offseason, and the defensive tackle could be a big need for this team. That makes the idea of Woods more enticing and would be a logical addition for them. The idea of Woods joining the Bears would improve the pass rush along the interior while giving them a cheap building block for the next few years.
Chicago will certainly be in the market to improve their pass rush after having the second-worst pass rush win rate during the 2025 season. They were also tied for the seventh-fewest sacks at 35.
Woods is someone who should be dominant during the on-field portion of the combine, and that'll put him on many teams' radars. The Bears should be one of them, and they would be smart to schedule meetings with him so they can get to know the prospect on a different level.
A priority this offseason for the Bears will be bolstering this defensive front. Woods is one of the best at his position in this class, and Chicago fans should get to know him over the next two months.