The 2026 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Lee Hunter NFL Draft Profile.
For full rankings, mock drafts and live coverage, visit our NFL Draft hub.
Position: Interior Defensive Line
School: Texas Tech
Size: 6-foot-3 1/2, 318 pounds
Class: Senior
2025 stats: 41 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Hunter was a four-star recruit in the class of 2021 who signed with Auburn to stay in-state. He redshirted in 2021, then transferred to UCF for the 2022 season. Hunter registered 17 tackles and a sack as a reserve in 2022. For the 2023 season, Hunter started, totaling 69 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks. UCF won seven games that season. In 2024, Hunter was Second Team All-Big 12 with 45 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss. The Knights took a step back and Hunter transferred to Texas Tech for 2025. With the Red Raiders, he had 41 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He led the Red Raiders to the CFP.
Following the CFP appearance, Hunter has been preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft. He is currently projected to be a second to fourth round pick.
Hunter has good measurables for the interior defensive line. He measured in at over 6-foot-3 and 318 pounds at the NFL Combine, which is solid for the position. With his size, Hunter has good strength for the interior as well. He measured in with arms over 33 inches too, giving him good measurables overall.
He can be a weapon on early downs against the run. Hunter can take on multiple blockers and free others to make plays on the ball. When he is facing single blocks, he is able to shed and make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Whether it is him or his teammates, more effective play against the run is there when he is on the field.
His ability to two-gap is great and will help him find a role early in his career. He can take on double teams pretty well, anchoring well to hold his spot. There are improvements to his technique to make, but his willingness to take on double teams is impressive, and he does a solid job.
Hunter is a limited pass rushers with only a little bit of sack production over his career. He can push the pocket, but that is about all the value he brings. Hunter could be limited to just early down work at the next level, unless he can develop this area of his game a bit more.
His quickness at the snap is just average for the position. Hunter doesn’t time the snap well and he gets a late start to plays. Offensive linemen have time to get in position before he engages them. He doesn’t have great quickness overall and that makes him easier to block at times.
He can show good technique when taking on blocks. Hunter has strong hands and can use them more efficiently. Landing his hands inside with good timing will help and so too will keeping his pad level down.
Projected Draft Range: Second Round Pick-Fourth Round Pick
Draft Grade: Third Round Pick
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