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)