Texas Tech University Athletics
Panthers draft Hunter in second round of NFL Draft
April 24, 2026 | Football
PITTSBURGH – Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter heard his name called Friday night as the No. 49 overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the NFL Draft, with the selection announced by former Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme.
Hunter's selection marks three Red Raiders taken within the top 50 picks of the NFL Draft, joining David Bailey (No. 2, Jets) and Jacob Rodriguez (No. 43, Dolphins). It's the first draft in program history that three Red Raiders were selected within the top 50 overall selections.
Carolina traded up to the 49th overall pick on Friday to select Hunter, trading away the 51st and 159th overall picks to Minnesota in exchange for the 49th and 196th.
Hunter earned second-team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and USA Today, along with third-team recognition from the Associated Press, marking the first All-America accolades of his career. He joined Texas Tech after a second-team All-Big 12 season at UCF in 2024 and elevated his draft stock with a standout 2025 campaign that included first-team All-Big 12 honors from league coaches.
A cornerstone of one of the nation's top defensive fronts, Hunter helped lead Texas Tech to its first Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance while emerging as a key leader on and off the field. The Red Raiders led the Big 12 in scoring defense (11.8), rushing defense (68.1) and total defense (258.3), while ranking among the top five nationally in all three categories.
Hunter started all 14 games at nose guard in 2025, finishing with 41 tackles (16 solo), including a career-best 10.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Draft Notes
— TECH —
Hunter's selection marks three Red Raiders taken within the top 50 picks of the NFL Draft, joining David Bailey (No. 2, Jets) and Jacob Rodriguez (No. 43, Dolphins). It's the first draft in program history that three Red Raiders were selected within the top 50 overall selections.
Carolina traded up to the 49th overall pick on Friday to select Hunter, trading away the 51st and 159th overall picks to Minnesota in exchange for the 49th and 196th.
Hunter earned second-team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and USA Today, along with third-team recognition from the Associated Press, marking the first All-America accolades of his career. He joined Texas Tech after a second-team All-Big 12 season at UCF in 2024 and elevated his draft stock with a standout 2025 campaign that included first-team All-Big 12 honors from league coaches.
A cornerstone of one of the nation's top defensive fronts, Hunter helped lead Texas Tech to its first Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance while emerging as a key leader on and off the field. The Red Raiders led the Big 12 in scoring defense (11.8), rushing defense (68.1) and total defense (258.3), while ranking among the top five nationally in all three categories.
Hunter started all 14 games at nose guard in 2025, finishing with 41 tackles (16 solo), including a career-best 10.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Draft Notes
- Hunter is the first Texas Tech player selected by the Carolina Panthers in franchise history.
- With Hunter's selection, all 32 NFL teams have now drafted at least one Red Raider in the history of the NFL Draft.
- Hunter is the first interior defensive lineman selected from Texas Tech in the NFL Draft since Broderick Washington Jr. was picked by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
— TECH —
Players Mentioned
Jacob Rodriguez Draft Interview
Friday, April 24
The Pick Is In: Caleb Douglas
Friday, April 24
The Pick Is In: Romello Height
Friday, April 24
The Call: Lee Hunter Heading to Carolina
Friday, April 24