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Round 2: The Carolina Panthers select DT Lee Hunter (Texas Tech)


rodeo
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The Carolina Panthers selected Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter with the No. 49 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

The phrase "country strong" comes to mind when watching Lee Hunter's tape. 

The 6'3", 320-pound nose tackle has impressive size and strength to be a run-stuffer on first and second downs. However, his lack of athleticism and an effective get-off limits his contributions as a pass-rusher.

Hunter was originally a 4-star recruit in the 2021 class, committing to Auburn out of high school and redshirting as a true freshman. He transferred to UCF the following year and became a rotational player, collecting 17 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack.

The former Golden Knight developed into a full-time starter and enjoyed a breakout campaign as a redshirt sophomore with 69 tackles, 11 TFLs and three sacks to earn honorable mention All-Big 12 honors. He was a second-team selection in 2024 with 45 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and a sack.

Hunter accumulated 41 tackles, 10.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks during the 2025 season, earning first-team All-American and All-Big 12 honors.

Pros: Hunter is built like a true NFL nose tackle.

- Takes on blocks with his hands and displays impressive upper body strength to stand up offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage.

- Hard to move with one-on-one blocks and holds his gap when he keeps his pads down against double-teams, solid at absorbing contact against the run.

- Recognizes down blocks, shifting his eyes and hands to hold ground and avoid getting washed inside.

- Presents several ways to escape blocks, with the strength to stack-and-shed, while also showing hump and arm-over moves to catch offensive linemen leaning.

- Showed flashes of working the hands as a pass-rusher.

- Good pass-rush motor to get coverage or clean-up sacks when the quarterback steps up in the pocket.

Oregon State v Texas Tech

John E. Moore III/Getty Images

GRADE: 7.7 (Key Contributor — 2nd Round)

COMPARABLE GRADE: Tyleik Williams, Ohio State (7.6 in 2025), Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh (7.6 in 2023), Travis Jones, UConn (7.6 in 2022)

OVERALL RANK: 39

POSITION RANK: DL4

PRO COMPARISON: Dalvin Tomlinson

Edited by WarPanthers89
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8 minutes ago, bobcat91 said:

Im okay with the pick, but we could have gotten him without the trade. Hope everything works out but not a sexy draft so far

if you are so sure of yourself go place some bets. you must have 4th dimension abilities.  truly wasting your potential on this site man

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8 minutes ago, Dex said:

dropping 40 picks to trade up for a DT no one was picking in the next 2 picks is wild...

We had an extra fifth. That turned into an additional sixth. We are still picking 18th in the fifth.

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3 minutes ago, The Huddler said:

if you are so sure of yourself go place some bets. you must have 4th dimension abilities.  truly wasting your potential on this site man

Get to have my opinion just like yours.

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That's one big man! I'm always on board building a team from the lines on out and so I'm okay with this choice. Sounds like a good run stuffer which is quite welcome considering we were historically awful in that department recently.

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Just now, ColumbusCounty said:

Hill Jr might still b there at our 3rd btw.. his floor

If he falls to us in the third….they better slam that button. I don’t think he makes it past the cowboys 

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