The Minnesota Vikings have not featured a consistent and true nose tackle in their defense since Dalvin Tomlinson left the team a few years ago. And before Tomlinson, Linval Joseph was the last guy; he left after the 2019 campaign. So when some recent mock drafts have connected Minnesota to Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter, few have complained.
Minnesota’s interior remains a priority, and Hunter’s blend of power and movement is starting to look like a realistic fit.
Hunter could be gettable in Round 2, and the Vikings cannot be ruled out of his sweepstakes.
Hunter Enters Minnesota’s Draft Mix
Get to know the name Lee Hunter.
Mock Drafts Go on Spree of Hunter to Vikings
Hunter turned heads with an impressive Senior Bowl showing last week, and accordingly, he’s entered Minnesota’s mock draft fold.
ESPN’s Matt Miller recently mock-drafted Hunter to the Vikings in Round 2 and noted, “The Vikings badly need to get younger and hit on picks outside Round 1. Hunter might eventually move into the first round after a superstrong Senior Bowl week and could start right away as a nose tackle or 1-technique.”
Over at A to Z Sports, Tyler Forness did the same thing: “The Vikings didn’t have a nose tackle last season, choosing to prioritize the pass rush over a solid run defense. To a point, it worked, as the Vikings had the No. 7 overall defense and the No. 2 pass defense. What would it look like with a penetrating run-defender who can also attack as a pass rusher?”
“Hunter was on the best defensive line in the nation this season, and he continued to force double teams due to his combination of quick penetration and power. This could take a huge step forward on a defensive unit that honestly doesn’t need it.”
At this time on the NFL calendar, most of the buzz hits Round 1 hopefuls, but Hunter has wiggled into Minnesota’s Round 2 orbit.
The Hunter Details
Hunter is 6’3″ and 330 pounds. He’ll turn 24 by the time the regular season starts, so it’s not like the Vikings would onboard the youngest of rookies. Perhaps that age has nudged him down to Round 2 in most mock drafts. Hunter is known for run defense and speed at his size. He also has a lengthy college resume, so in theory, he may not need a redshirt year in the NFL.
NFL Draft Buzz‘sAndrew Moore on Hunter: “The combination of size, power, and proven production against Power Four competition makes Hunter a safe mid-round selection who should contribute immediately on run downs. His floor is higher than his ceiling given the athletic limitations and lack of pass-rush diversity, but teams investing a Day 3 pick will receive a player who understands his role and consistently delivers what he does well.”
“Hunter won’t become a Pro Bowl interior rusher, but he has the traits to develop into a dependable rotation player who earns starter snaps if he improves his conditioning and maintains consistent effort. The tape shows a physically impressive defender who needs refinement rather than a project, making him attractive for teams seeking immediate depth with developmental upside.”
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein’s take: “Hunter is a two-gapping nose tackle for odd or even fronts. He has the size, strength and length to do battle in the heart of the trenches but requires better block take-on technique to sit firmer in his grass. He won’t win in the gaps, but he can stack and shed single blocks or slide and stabilize his run fit against zone blocks.”
“Hunter’s girth and length are advantages when aligning over the center as a run defender. He doesn’t have enough quickness or skill as a rusher to see many passing downs, but he can dent the pocket with his power. Hunter projects as an early down space-eater who can make interior offensive linemen work for their gaps.”
What a DT Room Might Look Like
If the Vikings fulfill the prophecies from Miller and Forness, scooping Hunter from Round 2 of the draft, the 2026 DT unit might look like this:
- Jalen Redmond
- Jonathan Allen
- Javon Hargrave
- Lee Hunter
- Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
- Levi Drake Rodriguez
- Elijah Williams
There are also some early offseason whispers that Minnesota will cut Hargrave as a cap casualty, making the DT need more front and center in the draft.
The Vikings haven’t used Round 1 or 2 draft capital on a defensive tackle since 2013.
Consensus Big Board
Nose tackles don’t often rumble their way into Round 1. Per the Consensus Big Board as of early February, Hunter is considered No. 37 to be drafted in April, deemed as the type of player who could slip into the back section of the 1st Round or anywhere in Round 2.
New Vikings interim general manager Rob Brzezinski is scheduled to pick 18th in Round 1 and 49th in Round 2. With a bit of a slide, Hunter could be available at No. 49.
It’s also worth noting that Minnesota needs defensive secondary help this offseason, a cornerback and a safety, and the 1st-Round pick could be used on one of the positions.
The Vikings haven’t drafted a player from Texas Tech in nearly 30 years: defensive back Tony Darden in 1998.