Matt LaFleur Green Bay Packers Lee Hunter
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ESPN predicted head coach Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers to land defensive tackle Lee Hunter in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Green Bay Packers won’t have a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But they should still be able to fill a couple needs on Day 2 with a second and third-round pick. That’s exactly what the Packers did in a new 2026 NFL mock draft released from ESPN on Thursday.
At No. 52 overall, ESPN’s Field Yates projected the Packers to select Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter.
“Green Bay will have some 3-4 elements under new coordinator Jonathan Gannon; Hunter has the right skill set to anchor a run defense,” wrote Yates.
The Packers already have starting interior defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt. The team also signed veteran interior lineman Javon Hargrave in NFL free agency.
Yates, though, alluded to the unique attributes Hunter will be able to provide in Green Bay. He’s an ideal nose tackle for the 3-4 system, which Wyatt and Hargrave really aren’t.
The Texas Tech prospect would also bring tremendous size to the table for the Packers. The defensive tackle stands at 6-foot-3 and 318 pounds with 33-and-quarter-inch arms.
“Hunter is a two-gapping nose tackle for odd or even fronts,” wrote Zierlein. “He has the size, strength and length to do battle in the heart of the trenches …
“Hunter projects as an early down space-eater who can make interior offensive linemen work for their gaps.”
Packers Projected to Draft Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter
Lee Hunter
GettyESPN projected the Green Bay Packers to pick Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter at No. 52 overall.
Green Bay has several needs on defense it should try to address. The top one is probably edge rushing depth to support Micah Parsons.
But it’s usually pretty tough to find a high-ceiling star edge rusher on Day 2. Maybe the Packers can find quality depth along the edge in the later rounds.
Instead of filling that void in the second round, Yates predicted the Packers to add a nose tackle.
The addition of Hunter should help Green Bay’s run defense. The Packers were ranked 12th in rushing yards allowed per attempt but 18th in total rushing yards yielded.
At Texas Tech last season, Hunter posted 41 combined tackles, including 10.5 for loss. He also had 2.5 sacks with a forced fumble.
On their offseason roster, the Packers don’t distinguish between defensive tackles and defensive ends. So, they have 17 players they classify as defensive linemen.
That’s a lot of depth. But the Packers could still use Hunter as a run-stuffing nose tackle.
2026 NFL Mock Draft Sends Green Bay Versatile DB Treydan Stukes
Treydan Stukes
GettyESPN predicted the Green Bay Packers to selected Arizona cornerback Treydan Stukes at No. 84 overall.
Besides edge rusher and nose tackle, one of Green Bay’s other top remaining needs is cornerback.
The Packers grabbed Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes at No. 85 overall in the third round of the new ESPN mock draft Thursday.
“A versatile defensive back who can fit into any scheme, Stukes posted four interceptions in 2025 and then cruised to a 4.33-second 40 at the combine,” wrote Yates.
Stukes spent six seasons at Arizona. In 52 college games, he posted 29 pass defenses and seven interceptions, four of which he registered last season.
In 2025, he also had 52 combined tackles, including one tackle for loss, one sack and six pass defenses.
Considering the Packers don’t have a first-round pick, walking away with Hunter and Stukes after the first three rounds would be pretty terrific for Green Bay’s defense.