‘Got so much potential’ — KC Chiefs DT Peter Woods and fellow newcomers are already pushing DT Chris Jones to elevate his game
Kansas City Chiefs DT Chris Jones sees the potential in rookie DT Peter Woods after OTAs and mandatory minicamp. The veteran in the interior defensive line room is also finding motivation to elevate his game from the newcomers in the rebuilt room.
A few short months ago, Kansas City Chiefs DT Chris Jones likely looked around the interior defensive line room with an expression. I imagine it was something like the John Travolta “confused look” Meme of his character Vincent Vega from Pulp Fiction. Perhaps even the lonely Will Smith Meme from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
Jones went from being surrounded by familiar faces to a room that was rebuilt from the ground up. Now, he’s seeing the potential in his new group of teammates. That’s especially the case with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Clemson DT Peter Woods. As mandatory minicamp came to a close this week, Jones provided his first impressions of the rookie with an eye toward the future.
Chiefs’ 2026 Interior Defensive Line Room
Only two players* in the interior D-Line room, including Chris Jones, have been on the Chiefs’ 53-man roster for at least one season. Everyone else is either a rookie or a first-year player in Kansas City, or spent time on the practice squad in 2025.
- Chris Jones*
- Khyiris Tonga
- Peter Woods
- Omarr Norman-Lott*
- Marcus Harris
- Cole Brevard
- Amari McNeill
- Damon Payne
Chiefs DT Chris Jones raves about first-round DT Peter Woods
Woods already had an idea of how he and Chris Jones could play off of one another after just arriving in Kansas City following the draft. He told reporters that he was eager to play alongside him and soak up everything Jones was willing to share. When Jones was asked about his first impression of the rookie, he didn’t hold back.
“He’s a big guy, he’s strong, he’s a young bull, man,” Jones said. “Got so much potential; his skill set is still improving. It’s good to get that type of talent in the building; we can utilize him in a lot of ways. He played end, he plays nose, also played three-tech, so that versatility we definitely can utilize in the schematics that we were in with (Steve Spagnuolo’s) defense.”
Jones certainly sees the vision and how Woods can be impactful within Spags’ scheme. However, Woods isn’t the only rookie in the building for Kansas City. Woods and many others aren’t only looking to Jones for guidance, but they’re also pushing him to elevate his game.
Chiefs’ rebuilt D-Line room motivating Chris Jones to elevate his game
The fresh blood in the building for the Chiefs’ interior D-Line has grown up watching Chris Jones dominate in the NFL. Kansas City has been in the spotlight because of their Super Bowl success, and Jones is one of the pillars of that success. Asked whether it’d hit him yet that all of these young players are excited and eager to play alongside him, Jones made the entire press room laugh.
“That was a nice way of saying you’re old,” Jones joked. “That’s a nice way to say it. Yeah, I had been in the league, I guess, going on my 11th year. So, I mean, they paid attention to the Chiefs. They have probably seen me on the field, you know. For me, I use it as motivational points. You know, they’re younger, might be a little faster, also, but you know the mental aspect, I try to stay sharp on.”
Jones continued to explain that it’s motivating to be around the energy the room brings every day. Theoretically, if they all do their job, they should serve to make each other better each and every day. Not only through their talent, but through the wisdom Jones can impart and the motivation they can all spark inside of him.
“We’re finally reaching unc status, but I think it’s fun, man,” Jones said. “When you got a lot of young guys that’s hungry, you can definitely use that as motivation also. The way they’re flying around, so I think it’s a challenge. Accept it. And you know, I’m looking forward to playing with those guys.”