Chiefs player in danger of losing starting job to rookie after 2026 NFL Draft

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Chiefs player in danger of losing starting job to rookie after 2026 NFL Draft

Yago Antunes, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Mon, May 4, 2026 ·

6 min read

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The quarterback situation in Kansas City has already shifted since the draft. The Chiefs waived Jake Haener after signing Justin Fields and selecting LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier in the seventh round, while Patrick Mahomes continues to recover from a torn ACL.

Nussmeier's unexpected slide to pick number 249 became one of the more surprising stories of the draft, especially since NFL.com had previously noted that he was seen as a potential early selection before medical concerns caused him to fall.

The movement in the quarterback position will attract attention because everything with the Chiefs starts with Mahomes.

However, the rookie who is most likely to challenge for a starting role is not Nussmeier; it is Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods, and the veteran most at risk of losing his starting job is Khyiris Tonga .

Tonga is not a bad player at all, and the Chiefs did not sign him to be an insignificant presence.

Kansas City needed more size, stability in the run game and another interior player alongside Chris Jones .

Tonga fits all this, which is why early post-draft depth-chart projections still list him ahead of Woods at the defensive tackle position.

Sports Illustrated's projections even mentioned that Tonga's free-agent contract was substantial , making it unlikely for him to quickly lose a significant share of run-down work, although there remains room for Woods to alter this dynamic if his talent becomes undeniable.

Kansas City did not use a first-round pick on Woods for him to remain a quiet rotational player forever; of course, they selected him at number 29 after already choosing LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane in the first round.

The team's own roster page lists him as a defensive tackle from that late first-round selection , and he represents a clear intent by Kansas City to rebuild the defense with younger, high-upside talent following a disappointing season.

Khyiris Tonga's role looks safe now, but not settled

The simplest way to analyze the defensive tackle room is to categorize it as follows: Jones is the star, Tonga is the early-down starter, Woods is the first-round apprentice, and Omarr Norman-Lott is the younger depth piece.

This arrangement makes sense because it allows time for the rookie, rewards the veteran signing, and enables Steve Spagnuolo to develop strategies around Jones without rushing the rest of the interior players.

However, training camp rarely maintains such simplicity.

Tonga's reliability is the foundation of his case for a roster spot.

He is a big body and a strong run defender, capable of absorbing double teams without demanding special attention from the defense.

Teams value this trait, especially when Jones is at his best, moving around and creating mismatches, and the Chiefs need someone who can handle the tough interior snaps that do not appear in box scores.

Woods presents a different dynamic for this position group, and Kansas City drafted him because he can do more than just occupy space.

Arrowhead Pride's film review highlighted his explosiveness, quickness off the ball, and disruptive potential, while also noting that his weight fluctuations in college affected some aspects of his game.

At his peak, Woods displayed the burst and leverage necessary to change the outcome of a drive from the inside.

When heavier, he showed greater power against the run and against double teams, and this combination provides the coaching staff with numerous possibilities, even if he begins his rookie season in sub-packages.

A defensive tackle room can certainly accommodate both types of player, but the key question is: what happens if Woods develops more quickly than anticipated?

First-round defensive linemen typically receive opportunities early on because teams want to quickly assess their potential.

A veteran like Tonga can fend off a rookie by performing his role effectively, especially against the run, but he may not offer the same long-term upside.

That is when the starting spot becomes vulnerable, not necessarily in Week 1, but throughout the season.

The Chiefs only need Woods to become too valuable to remain the third option in the interior rotation, and once that occurs, the title of "starter" matters less than how the snaps are distributed, and Tonga may find himself transitioning from being a first-unit run defender to an early-down rotational player.

Peter Woods provides Kansas City with new defensive options

Peter Woods' greatest strength is not attributed to a single trait but rather to the versatility he brings in terms of alignments and personnel groups.

Chris Jones has long been the cornerstone of Kansas City's defense, and when they have another tackle who can challenge offensive protections, it complicates things for blockers.

Guards can no longer focus solely on Jones, while centers must reconsider their help strategies.

As a result, edge rushers benefit from clearer lanes, as quarterbacks have less space to step up in the pocket.

This is the type of defensive setup that Kansas City is clearly aiming to restore, and the draft class reflects this intention.

The addition of Delane provides the secondary with a new top-tier corner following the Trent McDuffie trade.

R. Mason Thomas contributes a promising young talent to the edge group, and Jadon Canady offers flexibility in the defensive backfield.

Woods plays a crucial role in this defensive rebuild as an interior player with significant potential, one who could elevate the performance of the front line rather than just fill roster spots.

Many draft analyses commended the Chiefs for their proactive approach in enhancing their defensive talent, highlighting both Woods and Thomas in that effort.

However, Tonga's situation is influenced by this very context, and his playing style promotes a defense that stays on course, while Woods has the potential to make the defense more dynamic.

This does not render Tonga expendable, as the Chiefs still require his size on the line, and with many tough running games in the AFC, they cannot rely solely on pass-rushing formations.

If Woods is lighter than the coaching staff prefers for certain schemes, Tonga's value remains significant. Additionally, if the rookie struggles with pad level consistency or faces difficulties with double teams, the veteran will maintain his role as a base player.

Other players, such as Nussmeier, do not pose a threat to Mahomes, and Emmett Johnson is unlikely to challenge Kenneth Walker III after such a major free-agent signing.

Although Cyrus Allen has the potential to compete for receiving snaps, a clear path to a starting job is not evident.

Meanwhile, Delane is expected to step into a role that has been created by roster changes rather than directly taking one from an established starter.

Woods stands out because his competition is readily apparent.

Tonga may start training camp as the more reliable option, but as the season progresses, the rookie's talent could lead to a reshuffling next to Jones.

If that change occurs, it won't come as a shock because it will be the natural outcome of a first-round draft pick gradually maturing into the role the Chiefs envisioned for him.

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