Lee Hunter — 2026 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

According to TruMedia, the Packers ranked 23rd in defensive rush EPA per snap on first and second down last season. To reclaim the NFC North's top spot from the run-savvy Chicago Bears and to earn their first home playoff game since 2021, the Packers might need to improve against the run, especially if defensive end Micah Parsons and/or defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt miss time again. Getting Parsons and Wyatt back will certainly help — the Packers didn't have either for the last two games in Chicago last season — but another mauler up front wouldn't hurt. Brugler thinks Hunter will be an "asset on early downs" because of his prowess against the run at 320 pounds with near-35-inch arms. Each of the Packers' top three defensive tackles, Wyatt, Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks, are also entering contract years, so it would behoove the Packers to backload the position in case they lose multiple interior defensive linemen in 2027 free agency.

I don't know where the Broncos would go here based on what I had available to them, but I'm a Lee Hunter fan, so I'd approve of this pick. He's a very large human being who seems to greatly enjoy playing football and making you feel like an idiot for thinking there'd be room to run in the A-gap. There are legit concerns about what, if anything, he'll offer as a pass rusher.

Hunter can hold the point against the run and he showed flashes of his upside as a pass rusher at the Senior Bowl. Recent Super Bowl winners have featured waves of defensive linemen they can rotate. Hunter joins 2025 draft picks Alfred Collins and CJ West to form a talented young trio on the interior.

The Bears' defense had admirable late-season performances, notably against the Rams in the divisional round, but that group needs to become more stout against the run. Luckily, this is a good defensive tackle class, especially for run-first guys. Hunter is one of those talented interior defenders, and he would give the Bears a burly defender who can eat blocks but also get into the backfield. He even has upside as a pass rusher. Hunter has to work on down-to-down consistency, but there aren't a lot of players with this size who can move as easily as Hunter does.

As I mentioned with Minter earlier, Jim Harbaugh still believes in that defensive philosophy of being big upfront and creating a run wall. Hunter fits the bill. He's very good in the interior and was a big winner at the Senior Bowl following his All-American season.