Panthers trade up to No. 49 to take defensive tackle Lee Hunter

Apr 24, 2026 at 08:15 PM

Darin Gantt

CHARLOTTE — The Panthers made another big addition to defense, and it took a deal.

They traded up to the 49th overall pick Friday night, so they could take Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter.

To get there, they gave up the 51st and 159th overall picks to Minnesota in exchange for the 49th and 196th.

A massive run-stopper, Hunter adds to the mix on the defensive front, where the Panthers added Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III in free agency last year.

The 23-year-old Hunter has shown some flashes as an interior rusher for a player his size.

6-3, 318-pound nose tackle helps fill the absence of veteran A'Shawn Robinson, who was released this offseason and signed with the Buccaneers.

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Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter (2) defends against Central Florida during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)

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Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter (2) lines up against Central Florida during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)

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Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter (2) lines up against Central Florida during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)

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Texas Tech's Romello Height (9), Lee Hunter (2) and others celebrate after Height recovered a BYU fumble in the second half of a Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

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National Team defensive tackle Lee Hunter (10), of Texas Tech, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

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National Team defensive tackle Lee Hunter (10), off Texas Tech, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

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National Team defensive tackle Lee Hunter (10), of Texas Tech, runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

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Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter (15) speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter (15) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Michael Conroy

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Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter (15) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Michael Conroy

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Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter (15) runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Michael Conroy

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Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter runs a position drill during the school's NFL football pro day, Thursday, March 26, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Annie Rice)

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Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter attends the school's NFL football pro day, Thursday, March 26, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Annie Rice)

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Kent State quarterback Michael Alaimo (18) looks for a receiver as Central Florida defensive tackle Lee Hunter (2) gives chase during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

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Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen (12) throws a pass as Central Florida defensive tackle Lee Hunter (2) applies pressure during the first half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

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Houston offensive lineman Tank Jenkins (72) and offensive lineman Jack Freeman (75) block against Central Florida defensive tackle Lee Hunter (2) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

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Sam Houston State quarterback Hunter Watson (10) escapes from Central Florida defensive tackle Lee Hunter (2) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

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Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita, left, scrambles away from Central Florida defensive tackle Lee Hunter (2) during the second half in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)

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Central Florida defensive tackle Ricky Barber (5) and defensive tackle Lee Hunter (2) celebrate an Arizona quarterback sack during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)

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Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) runs away from Central Florida defensive tackle Lee Hunter (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

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Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter (2) reacts after making a sack against Arizona State in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter warms up before an NCAA college football game against Kansas State, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)