Lee Hunter — 2026 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

The Vikings badly need to get younger and hit on picks outside Round 1. Hunter might eventually move into the first round after a superstrong Senior Bowl week and could start right away as a nose tackle or 1-technique.

Hunter is a heavy-handed presence in the middle who consistently makes life miserable for interior offensive linemen by eating up double teams and shedding blocks to swallow up running backs. While he's still developing as a pass rusher, his ability to collapse the pocket with raw power and chase down plays from the backside shows he's much more than your garden-variety two-gap space-eater.

Hunter made a case for the prospect who had the best overall week at the Senior Bowl. He was impactful in team drills and one-on-ones as a run stopper and a pass rusher. He was good at UCF in years prior, but he really took his game to the next level at Texas Tech this past season, earning an 84.5 PFF run-defense grade and a 75.0 PFF pass-rush grade against true pass sets. His Senior Bowl momentum brings him into Round 1 conversations.

A 6-3, 330-pound cannonball, Hunter is an athletic, disruptive force who moves very well for his size. In addition to being a pass-rush threat, Hunter once made 41 run stops in a season (2023) from his nose tackle spot.

Hunter is one of my early draft crushes. He has outstanding size, quickness and the ability to disrupt. With Teair Tart due to become a free agent, Hunter would provide some insurance.

EDITOR'S UPDATE: After publishing on Monday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Teair Tart has agreed to terms with the Chargers on a three-year extension worth up to $37.5 million.