Pro Football Rumors
Panthers Sign Round 2 DT Lee Hunter, Wrap Draft Class
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5:52pm: Hunter’s deal comes with full guarantees through 2028 and partial guarantees in ’29, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The total percentage of guarantees is 94.39, a much higher number than the 78.94% last year’s 49th pick, Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight, received. 12:39pm: The Panthers officially have their entire 2026 draft class under contract. Second-round defensive tackle Lee Hunter signed his four-year rookie deal on Friday, the team announced. As the 49th overall pick, Hunter’s arrangement is worth approximately $10.07MM. There is likely a significant amount of guaranteed money in the pact. Falcons cornerback Avieon Terrell, who went one pick before Hunter, received a fully guaranteed accord. The 50th selection, Jets corner D’Angelo Ponds, landed $8.95MM in guarantees on a $9.84MM agreement. Originally set to select 51st overall, the Panthers moved up two spots in a trade with the Vikings to secure Hunter. The 6-foot-3, 318-pounder came off the board early on the heels of a productive four-year college career divided between UCF and Texas Tech. Hunter broke out in 2023, his second season at UCF, where he piled up 69 tackles, 11 TFL and three sacks in 13 games. He earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024, a 12-game, 45-tackle campaign, and then transferred to Texas Tech. In his lone season as a Red Raider, Hunter notched 41 tackles, 10.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks in 14 contests. In addition to picking up a first-team All-Big 12 nod, he was a first-team All-American. Thanks in part to Hunter, Texas Tech finished first in the nation in run defense last year. That is an area where the Panthers will hope to improve in 2026, as they ranked an underwhelming 20th against opposing ground attacks last season. They now have Hunter as a run-stuffing option on a Derrick Brown-led D-line that also features Bobby Brown and Tershawn Wharton. Along with Hunter, the Panthers added six other rookies in the draft. Here is a refresher on the group: Round 1, No. 19: Monroe Freeling (T, Georgia) Round 2, No. 49 (from Vikings): Lee Hunter (DT, Texas Tech) Round 3, No. 83: Chris Brazzell II (WR, Tennessee) Round 4, No. 129 (from Bears): Will Lee III (CB, Texas A&M) Round 5, No. 144 (from Titans via Panthers): Sam Hecht (C, Kansas State) Round 5, No. 151 (from Dolphins): Zakee Wheatley (S, Penn State) Round 7, No. 227 (from Dolphins): Jackson Kuwatch (LB, Miami (OH) View Comments (0)
Takes mentioned in this episode
- Bengals team · neutral
“Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight, received.”
Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight, received.
- Demetrius Knight player · neutral
“Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight, received.”
Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight, received.
- Lee Hunter player · positive
“Second-round defensive tackle Lee Hunter signed his four-year rookie deal on Friday, the team announced.”
Second-round defensive tackle Lee Hunter signed his four-year rookie deal on Friday, the team announced.
- Avieon Terrell player · positive
“Falcons cornerback Avieon Terrell, who went one pick before Hunter, received a fully guaranteed accord.”
Falcons cornerback Avieon Terrell, who went one pick before Hunter, received a fully guaranteed accord.
- D’Angelo Ponds player · positive
“The 50th selection, Jets corner D’Angelo Ponds, landed $8.95MM in guarantees on a $9.84MM agreement.”
The 50th selection, Jets corner D’Angelo Ponds, landed $8.95MM in guarantees on a $9.84MM agreement.
- Panthers team · neutral
“The Panthers officially have their entire 2026 draft class under contract.”
The Panthers officially have their entire 2026 draft class under contract.
- Falcons team · neutral
“Falcons cornerback Avieon Terrell, who went one pick before Hunter, received a fully guaranteed accord.”
Falcons cornerback Avieon Terrell, who went one pick before Hunter, received a fully guaranteed accord.
- Jets team · neutral
“The 50th selection, Jets corner D’Angelo Ponds, landed $8.95MM in guarantees on a $9.84MM agreement.”
The 50th selection, Jets corner D’Angelo Ponds, landed $8.95MM in guarantees on a $9.84MM agreement.
- Vikings team · neutral
“Originally set to select 51st overall, the Panthers moved up two spots in a trade with the Vikings to secure Hunter.”
Originally set to select 51st overall, the Panthers moved up two spots in a trade with the Vikings to secure Hunter.
- Bears team · neutral
“Round 4, No. 129 (from Bears): Will Lee III (CB, Texas A&M)”
Round 4, No. 129 (from Bears): Will Lee III (CB, Texas A&M)
- Titans team · neutral
“Round 5, No. 144 (from Titans via Panthers): Sam Hecht (C, Kansas State)”
Round 5, No. 144 (from Titans via Panthers): Sam Hecht (C, Kansas State)
- Miami Dolphins team · neutral
“Round 5, No. 151 (from Dolphins): Zakee Wheatley (S, Penn State)”
Round 5, No. 151 (from Dolphins): Zakee Wheatley (S, Penn State)
- Monroe Freeling player · neutral
“Round 1, No. 19: Monroe Freeling (T, Georgia)”
Round 1, No. 19: Monroe Freeling (T, Georgia)
- Will Lee III player · neutral
“Round 4, No. 129 (from Bears): Will Lee III (CB, Texas A&M)”
Round 4, No. 129 (from Bears): Will Lee III (CB, Texas A&M)
- Sam Hecht player · neutral
“Round 5, No. 144 (from Titans via Panthers): Sam Hecht (C, Kansas State)”
Round 5, No. 144 (from Titans via Panthers): Sam Hecht (C, Kansas State)
- Zakee Wheatley player · neutral
“Round 5, No. 151 (from Dolphins): Zakee Wheatley (S, Penn State)”
Round 5, No. 151 (from Dolphins): Zakee Wheatley (S, Penn State)
- Derrick Brown player · neutral
“Derrick Brown-led D-line”
Derrick Brown-led D-line
- Bobby Brown player · neutral
“Bobby Brown”
Bobby Brown
- Tershawn Wharton player · neutral
“Tershawn Wharton”
Tershawn Wharton
- Chris Brazzell player · neutral
“Round 3, No. 83: Chris Brazzell II (WR, Tennessee)”
Round 3, No. 83: Chris Brazzell II (WR, Tennessee)