The Green Bay Packers are taking a closer look at a potential key piece for their defensive line, hosting Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter for an official pre-draft visit today. The prospect himself confirmed the meeting, posting a photo from inside the Packers' facility on his Instagram account.
Hunter arrives in Green Bay fresh off a standout 2025 season where he earned second-team All-American honors, anchoring a dominant Texas Tech defense. For a Packers team actively seeking to bolster their defensive front, Hunter presents an intriguing Day 2 option in the upcoming draft.
His production last season was impressive: in his lone year with the Red Raiders after transferring from UCF, Hunter racked up 42 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, and 3.0 sacks. Advanced metrics from PFF credit him with 26 pressures and 25 stops, showcasing his disruptive presence. Over his entire collegiate career, which included two starting years at UCF, he amassed 32.5 tackles for loss and 81 pressures across 1,800 snaps.
However, his pre-draft evaluation comes with mixed signals. While his game tape shows a powerful and instinctive player, his athletic testing at the NFL Combine raised some eyebrows. Measuring at 6-3 and 318 pounds, Hunter posted a 5.18-second 40-yard dash and a modest 21.5-inch vertical leap, resulting in a disappointing Relative Athletic Score of 4.12. This places him among the lower-ranked athletes in the draft's top 50 prospects, where he currently sits at No. 49.
Despite the testing numbers, his on-field skills keep him in the conversation for many teams. Draft analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic projects Hunter as a second- or third-round pick. Brugler's assessment highlights a player with "light feet for a big guy" and a balanced blend of strength and movement, capable of shutting down running lanes with his heavy hands. The critique notes he's more of a "slow-burn pocket pusher" than a refined pass-rusher, but lauds his instincts and versatility as a two-gapping nose tackle who can play against both A and B gaps.
For the Packers, Hunter represents a classic draft dilemma: proven collegiate production versus measurable athletic traits. His visit indicates serious interest as Green Bay looks to add a powerful, scheme-diverse anchor to the heart of their defense.