Through the Kansas City Chiefs’ first two padded practices this week at training camp at Missouri Western State University in St. Joe, rookie defensive tackle has looked like a star in the making.
Woods comes to the team via Clemson after the Chiefs made him the 29th overall selection in the April draft. The rookie — as well as his fellow first-year defenders — is also impressing one of his more veteran new teammates.
“P-Woods, he’s
a little pitbull,” defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga said after Tuesday’s practice. “He’s nasty. He’s got something to him, and he’s got a chip on his shoulder. [He’s] eager to learn — just a sponge. Just taking everything in and just learning and growing, it’s cool to see that. Really, all the rookies too. We’ve got a good group of rookies coming in.”
Tonga also noted Woods’ advanced moves for a rookie and fathoms that he will only improve with time.
“He’s a D-lineman,” Tonga explained. “He can play the run. He can do the pass. Technique stuff, he’s obviously learning. It’s different in college, the speed of the game. He’s there. You watch him during practice and the things he’ll be flashing. Just for him to continue to learn and to grow, the sky’s the limit for P-Woods.”
Woods also should benefit from cutting his NFL teeth against some of the NFL’s best interior offensive linemen in center Creed Humphrey and guards Trey Smith and Kingsley Suamataia. Tonga confirmed that the trio is proving a formidable test for all of Kansas City’s defensive tackles in camp.
“They’re the real deal having the three up front,” observed Tonga. “Really, the whole O-line, but going against Creed and Trey and all those boys, it’s iron on iron. Just being able to sharpen up and get better with those boys, it’s definitely good work.”
