Planting flags on one prospect from each day of the 2026 NFL Draft

Planting flags on one prospect from each day of the 2026 NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The 2026 NFL Draft has just about arrived, giving us one last chance to get a word in between the blizzard of picks, trades, and post-draft signings bound to bury the rest of the offseason.

And while it's not going to be on us to pound the table for certain players in war rooms, it's worth taking a stand on certain players, if for no other reason than to gloat later on if we get things right. 'My guys' from the 2026 NFL Draft Day 1: Peter Woods, DT, Clemson I just can't quit Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Peter Woods. Yes, he's removed from his most productive season.

And yes, the Tigers' defense as a whole took a step back in 2025. Even so, Woods' combination of ceiling and floor has me entranced. He's been an NFL-level run defender for multiple years at this point.

His burst is special, his per-pound strength is as good as any defensive lineman in this class, and his violent hands will play well against the veterans waiting for him across the line of scrimmage. Woods has the size to play on every down and all the ingredients to be a high-level pass rusher at the next level. The best football is ahead of Woods, and his stock slipping might allow him to be weaponized on an elite defense, not unlike Byron Murphy II.