Panthers Draft Lee Hunter, Boost Defensive Line

0:00On April 25th, the Carolina Panthers beefed up their defensive front in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, grabbing Texas Tech. Defensive tackle Lee Hunter with the 49th overall pick. This 6'3, 318-pound powerhouse joins offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, their first round steal from Georgia to anchor. The top of the draft class. To make it happen, the Panthers traded up two spots right before the pick, swapping their 51st and 159th selections with the Minnesota Vikings for the 49th and 196th. General manager Dan Morgan noted the board was thinning fast, so they pounced to lock in their top target instead of settling. Fans and analysts are buzzing about Hunter's fit in Carolina's 3-4 scheme, where he'll rotate with studs like Derrick Brown, Bobby Brown, and Terc Wharton. Starting from Mobile, Alabama, he brings college production with 172 tackles, 32 for loss, and 7.5 sacks across.

1:00Stints at Auburn, Central Florida, and Texas Tech. At the NFL Scott & Combine, Hunter clocked a 5.1840 yard dash, a 21.5 inch vertical, and an 8-foot-four. Broadjump, showing explosion for his size, head coach Dave Canallas highlighted his violent disruptive style of front, perfect for mixing into the heavy rotation without fixed starters. Morgan's kept the tradition alive, drafting a dealignment in each of his first three classes while wheeling and dealing in round two. With picks still looming in rounds three through six, Carolina's building a versatile trench crew ready to clash.