Former Alabama high school star signs $18 million NFL contract

Former Thompson High School standout Peter Woods has officially put pen to paper. The Kansas City Chiefs announced that the defensive lineman has signed his inaugural NFL contract.

Kansas City selected the former Clemson star with the 29th overall pick in the NFL Draft on April 23. His new four-year, fully guaranteed deal is worth $17.976 million and features a $9.533 million signing bonus. As is standard for first-round selections, the agreement includes a team option for a fifth season in 2030.

Rising from Alabama Prep Star to NFL Pro

Woods is no stranger to success. During his prep career at Thompson, he earned All-State honors in both 2021 and 2022. The Alabaster-based Warriors were a dominant force under his leadership, capturing the AHSAA Class 7A championship in both of those seasons and maintaining a 50-5 record throughout his four-year tenure. In 2022, he was further decorated as the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 7A Lineman of the Year.

Transitioning to the collegiate level at Clemson, Woods continued to impress. In 2025, he earned second-team All-American recognition from The Associated Press after racking up 30 tackles, two sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss. Remarkably, he also proved his versatility as a short-yardage fullback, rushing for 15 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries.

Draft Class Update

With Woods and Kansas City’s other first-round selection, LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, officially under contract, only four of the 32 first-round picks from this year remain unsigned. This group includes former Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, the 13th overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams.

Out of the 28 prospects from Alabama high schools and colleges chosen during the April 23-25 draft, three players have yet to sign their rookie deals. Beyond Simpson, the list includes Auburn alumni Keyron Crawford (No. 67, Las Vegas Raiders) and Romello Height (No. 70, San Francisco 49ers).

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