Lee Hunter Visits The Bucs
April 14th, 2026
Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter.
For the past three or four weeks, nearly every day that passes, Joe gets more and more confident the Bucs may go defensive tackle in the first round, or no later than Day 2 of the draft. And if that’s the case, that means Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald will be a new Bucs defender.
McDonald is the only defensive tackle expected to go in the first round, possibly in the late-teens, maybe early 20s. NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell positively gushes over McDonald and referred to him as a “great” run stopper.
And YouKnowWho loves to stop the run, first and foremost.
McDonald is a physical beast in the trenches and is simply an ass-kicker in the mosh pit.
But Joe, why would the Bucs choose a defensive tackle? They need an inside linebacker. They have Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey.
Exactly. And how do you know both Kancey and Vea will be on the roster next March? Vea, 31, is in a contract year. If Calijah Kancey gets hurt (again), Joe has a hunch the Bucs may just throw their hands in the air and part ways. Kancey, since he was drafted in 2023, has only played in 56 percent of the Bucs’ regular-season games.
(And people screamed about Jamel Dean missing four or five games a year!)
Besides, how did Seattle win the Super Bowl? They brought waves of stud defensive linemen into the game like line changes in hockey.
You don’t see Houston or Philadelphia whining about their deep, physical defensive lines.
Joe types all of this because Lee Hunter, sort of a Vita Vea clone from Texas Tech, visited One Buc Palace last week. He’s expected to be a second-round draft pick.
Personally, Joe would rather have McDonald. He played a lot tougher opponents and whipped their arses. What was Hunter’s toughest opponent, Utah?
That doesn’t mean Joe wouldn’t embrace Hunter if the Bucs drafted him. And solely because the Bucs brought Hunter in for a visit, Joe leans even more that the Bucs may just trade down and get McDonald in the first round.
Here is what veteran NFL reporter Bob McGinn, typing for GoLongTD.com had on Hunter, who McGinn lists as his No. 4 defensive tackle in the draft.
4. LEE HUNTER, Texas Tech (6-3 ½, 320, 5.18, 2): Spent 2021 at Auburn but didn’t play. Played extensively at Central Florida from 2022-’24, starting in his last two years, before moving to Texas Tech. “He’s nasty,” said one scout. “He’s got that jolt and anchor at the point of attack in the run game. Plays hard. There’s not tons of range just because he’s such a big guy. More of a bull rusher. Just kind of a bully-you kind of guy. Got enough movement to get into a gap quick and snatch people with some agility. He’s a good starter. He’ll be taken in the first. He’s neck-and-neck with McDonald but I’d take this guy. He’s got some knock knees and a bad body that was very noticeable. Those knock knees look a little worrisome. Knees in, sort of toes out.” Tackles declined from 69 to 45 to 41 in his three seasons of heavy participation. “Two years ago (2023) I really liked him,” said a second scout. “I called him an underachiever in 2024 and then he went to Texas Tech. I felt like, overall, he’s a frontrunner. There’s things where he stands up and gets caught looking around as opposed to keeping his pad level down and knocking people back. He’s not a finished version. He was productive this year, I’ll give him that. It’s not like he’s a lean, mean fighting machine. His endurance comes into play watching this kid. How can you sit here and jump on the table for Lee Hunter when you know he’s a two-down player? You have to be on the other side of the line of scrimmage.” First defensive lineman from Texas Tech named All-America since Gabe Rivera in 1982. “Some people sort of like the foot agility, and he is a wide body,” a third scout said. “Sort of an out-there personality. He was one of those mercenaries that Texas Tech signed this year. I think he’s more like a second-round pick.” Finished with 172 tackles (323 for loss), 7 ½ sacks, one forced fumble and one batted pass. “He can do twitchy, disruptive D-tackle jobs,” a fourth scout said. “He penetrates, and has a little pass rush to him. He can hunker down as a nose and create piles and control the gap. He showed it at the Senior Bowl. He helped himself. First round.” Arms were 33 ¼, hands were just 9 ¼. His vertical jump (21 ½) was awful. “People are all over the place with him,” a fifth scout said. “People have him in the first and I just cannot see that. At all. He’s knock-kneed, top-heavy, body’s bad. Makes one splash play and then disappears for a few quarters. Gets washed out.” Four-star recruit from Mobile, Ala.
Joe has no issue at all with the Bucs going big and ornery on the defensive line. And “this Joe” much prefers a defensive tackle in the first round than burning a first-round pick on yet another expensive edge rusher to flame out under Todd Bowles.
Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter isnt a typical space eating NT. At 6'4 330 he moves well & is at his best when attacking upfield
Good short area burst to get into the backfield and has the upper body strength to push the pocket and flashes dominate reps vs run & pass #BuildingTheBoard pic.twitter.com/2iYOYRrDOj
— Steve Letizia (@CFCBears) March 7, 2026
April 14th, 2026 at 4:42 am
Def possible they go DT early, but the additions of Nacho & Big Nasty, along with Cancy, Vea, with Roberts & Jones (two guys they’re supposedly high on) make me think it’ll be later in the draft before they pull the trigger. I kinda like a couple Day 3 guys in van den Berg & Onyedim, but obviously that means nothing lol. We’ll see in a week.
April 14th, 2026 at 5:07 am
The best DTs (and Tackles) have tree trunks for legs (think Vita Vea & Tristan Wirfs). THAT’s Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald. He’ll grow into the pass rush as his techniques mature. But in the meantime, no one’s moving him; he’ll own that piece of real estate in the center of our DLine.
I really hope the Bucs don’t screw around (like we’ve historically done) & wait too long to try to draft McDonald.
April 14th, 2026 at 5:26 am
I just want our 1st round draft pick to start. Is that to much to ask.
April 14th, 2026 at 5:44 am
Couldn’t help it, but watching Hunter another Tech defender popped on that film. Number 10. Now, that’s the ball player! I’m a big believer in the middle of the DL. “brought waves of stud defensive linemen into the game like line changes in hockey”. That’s the way I see it. McDonald has to be our play. Wouldn’t hurt a thing to get Hunter, too. Don’t know how we can get McDonald and Rodriguez because I’ll guarantee there are 31 other DCoordinators that’ll love both these two as well. DR, “don’t screw around and wait too long”, you’re dead right about that. I’m starting to think our first pick is gonna be McDonald. I would still go JRod if we had a chance but I’m good with McDonald. We’re gonna find out soon!
April 14th, 2026 at 5:52 am
Joe, don’t forget that Dean didn’t like to tackle.
April 14th, 2026 at 6:36 am
I like McDonald in RD1. Challenge for Licht is to draft three difference makers on defense, DT Edge and ILB.
April 14th, 2026 at 7:03 am
Agree FrontFour, but keep in mind there are only a few top ILB prospects which means first or second round at the latest. There are quality DL, edge and CB all through the 4th round. My opinion is they trade back with Steelers, still get McDonald, then Hill (LB), then best edge available. There are 2-3 tall / fast cornerbacks who fit Todd’s type in late third or early fourth. After that they go Guard and safety.
April 14th, 2026 at 7:09 am
Yes please. Could possibly be there in 2nd round
April 14th, 2026 at 7:13 am
“Def possible they go DT early, but the additions of Nacho & Big Nasty, along with Cancy, Vea, with Roberts & Jones (two guys they’re supposedly high on) make me think it’ll be later in the draft before they pull the trigger.”
Agreed, I don’t think the value at DT is on par with the talent at say ILB/CB in this class and we’re looking at needing potential starting level talent in the grass at ILB & CB.
Still holding out hope we’ve got Landon Robinson on the board. Robinson could be a different piece from what we have, but also serve as insurance just in case Kancey gets taken out(again).
April 14th, 2026 at 7:18 am
Test
April 14th, 2026 at 7:25 am
Definitely need a huge tackle because little Buster Kancey will be on the sidelines by mid-season.
April 14th, 2026 at 7:35 am
Worth noting:
Update: Now *3 confirmed meetings
-Senior Bowl meetings.
-Combine meeting.
-Now Top-30 visit to One Buc Palace.
But yeah… nothing to see here. 😏
April 14th, 2026 at 7:43 am
No doubt — trading back has to be the move. We’ve got too many holes to sit and pick one guy. Add an extra 2nd and you can fix multiple levels of the defense in one shot.
April 14th, 2026 at 7:43 am
Targets by Group
EDGE
Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) (Late 1st/Early 2nd) – polished, high IQ
Zion Young (Missouri) (Mid 2nd) – 6’6″ traits + motor
T.J. Parker (Clemson) (Top 15) – sprint the card in if he slides
April 14th, 2026 at 7:44 am
ILB
Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas) (2nd) – 17 sacks, elite instincts
Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech) (Mid 2nd) – 317 tackles, playmaker
April 14th, 2026 at 7:45 am
Nickel/DB
Keionte Scott (Miami) (Late 2nd) – 4.38, versatile
D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana) (2nd) – ball hawk, big-game production
April 14th, 2026 at 7:45 am
Path B (Speed + Versatility)
1st — Kayden McDonald (Ohio State)
2nd — Zion Young (Missouri)
2nd — Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech)
3rd — BPA
April 14th, 2026 at 7:49 am
“Knock knees” or the opposite “bow legs” can cause early knee joint degeneration and arthritis. Pass.
April 14th, 2026 at 7:56 am
“Cashius Howell (Texas A&M) (Late 1st/Early 2nd) – polished, high IQ”
Best pass rush plan in the entire draft.
“Keionte Scott (Miami) (Late 2nd) – 4.38, versatile”
Scott could make it so we could push Parris to the boundary
-OR-
Be used in that big nickel/$LB type of role patrolling the flats and seams.
April 14th, 2026 at 7:58 am
IrishMist
The “knock-kneed” 😂 is a legitimate flag, I guess. It’s not an automatic disqualifier.
I mean has it affected his play? The combine medical review exists for exactly this reason, and if the Bucs’ medical staff cleared him during the Top-30 visit, that supersedes any visual read from film.
The Bucs’ trainers and orthopedic staff earn their salary precisely for this evaluation.
April 14th, 2026 at 8:00 am
Warren Brooks Lynch
Exactly!
April 14th, 2026 at 8:02 am
How tired will opposing O-Line be by 4th quarter after being force fed steady diet of Vea, McDonald, A’Shawn the A$$ Kicker, Nacho, (crossing fingers) Cancey rotating in & out all game long in the hot Tampa Bay sun? These dogs will chew holes in that fence, break it down, and maul QB(s). Can’t run. No time to pass.
In my minds eye, it’s similar to watching Baker run for his life as soon as ball was snapped last year when we were down to UPS guys playing both guard spots – except this D Line will be bigger faster hungrier (yeah, c’mon JL!)
Bryce Young getting swallowed beneath tidal waves of Tampa jerseys like a lawn chair during a hurricane. Ah, that makes me smile.
April 14th, 2026 at 8:09 am
IrishMist
I mean… Quenton Nelson was labeled knock-kneed and pigeon-toed coming out of high school. Went 6th overall. Multiple Pro Bowls. Dominant career.
Don’t remember anyone asking for a refund. 😏
April 14th, 2026 at 8:12 am
I would not whine too loud about Hunter at 15…or trading back to 20 and getting some extra picks?
Go Bucs!
April 14th, 2026 at 8:17 am
Tampa2ATL … ‘Bryce Young getting swallowed beneath tidal waves of Tampa jerseys like a lawn chair during a hurricane. Ah, that makes me smile.’
And there are lots of Panthers’ fans thinking exactly the same thing about Baker Mayfield getting swallowed up by their beefed-up defense. Funny thing is that they pick 2 places after us, and there’ve been a number of things I’ve read projecting that they’ll take DT Kayden McDonald to go with their DLine beast Derrick Brown.
Apparently quite a few teams took to heart what the Seahawks did last season with the middle of their Dline. The Panthers have spent BIG on defense so far this off-season.
April 14th, 2026 at 8:20 am
without question we need DT early…
im starting to warm up to Darrell Jackson Jr-FSU…he’ll be there in the 3rd….
C.Banks from UF may drop to the 2nd round…
first 3 picks have to be IOL, DT, EDGE…doesnt have to be in that order
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 14th, 2026 at 8:21 am
Aw man stomach just turned.