The New York Giants have shown a clear pattern under Joe Schoen when it comes to drafting defense in the first round. It’s not about filling short-term holes — it’s about securing long-term playmakers. Whether it’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, Deonte Banks, or Abdul Carter, the focus has been athleticism, upside, and the ability to disrupt.
That same formula may steer them toward another defensive lineman next spring. And this one has a familiar pedigree. Clemson’s Peter Woods is already drawing buzz as a potential 2026 top pick, and if the G-Men find themselves in the market for future help up front, he’ll be impossible to ignore.
Woods brings the kind of traits every team craves: explosiveness, alignment flexibility, and an innate ability to cause problems in the backfield. With third-round rookie Darius Alexander struggling during the preseason and Dexter Lawrence’s future running mate still unclear, there’s a window for a long-term chess piece to enter the fold.
Peter Woods could be a perfect long-term fit in New York
Woods is one of those players who could force a team to look beyond the counting stats. In 2024, he totaled just three sacks after recording none as a freshman, but the tape tells a completely different story. ESPN’s Field Yates described him as a “chaos causer," a disruptive force who commanded the attention of offensive lines on every snap.
PFF’s Top 50 College Football Players for the 2025 Season:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 5, 2025
#3: Peter Woods, Clemson
🐅 89.9 Career PFF Grade pic.twitter.com/h1Pyuz3L6b
Yates noted Woods’ ability to line up from multiple spots and create mismatches, making him an ideal piece to deploy alongside the likes of Brian Burns, Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Lawrence.
Lawrence's name matters the most — not just because he's one of the best defenders in all of football, but because he also played at Clemson. New York clearly understands what that program can produce.
There’s no pretending this would be a luxury pick. If Big Blue spends a first-rounder on Woods, it’s because they don’t trust anyone outside of Lawrence to anchor the interior long-term.
The G-Men are in the process of cutting their 90-man offseason roster down to 53, giving fans a bit of insight into who they view as competitive pieces to move forward with. There's a good chance they carry at least five defensive linemen in 2025. Lawrence is a lock. So are Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Alexander. Aside from those three, it's looking like Elijah Chatman and Roy Robertson-Harris.
That's not necessarily the deepest, nor the most talented unit in the league. Yes, the defensive line is their strong suit... but not the interior. Woods could change that immediately, lining up next to Lawrence for the foreseeable future.
Still, it’s hard to ignore the team essentially passing on Alexander after just one season, while also disregarding the Giants’ impressive offseason and preseason by projecting them to pick No. 2 overall.
The Giants have leaned heavily into building a fast, versatile, and overwhelming defense. If Woods takes the expected leap in 2025, he’ll be at the top of a lot of draft boards. And if Schoen sticks to his identity, Woods might end up in blue, continuing the Clemson-to-Giants pipeline in the trenches that already produced one of the league’s best defenders.