Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter believes his energy and skills could keep Kansas City Chiefs ‘doing what they do best’
Lee Hunter thinks he’s exactly what the Kansas City Chiefs need to return to prominence after a down season.
The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is underway, with linebackers and defensive linemen having an opportunity to speak to the media. A trio of players from Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ alma mater, Texas Tech, took the podium on Wednesday.
Speaking to A to Z Sports’ Travis May, Red Raiders DT Lee Hunter explained what it’d mean to him to join Mahomes in Kansas City and why he believes he’s a strong fit for the team.
“Everything,” Hunter told May. “At the end of the day, it’d be a blessing. I’d enjoy playing with Pat (Mahomes) and the Chiefs, and I bring a lot to the table to keep that program doing what they do best.”
What exactly would he bring to the table? Beyond elite physical traits at 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds, Hunter says he’s the type of guy that teams are going to want to have in the locker room.
“I bring to the team high energy, a football player, you’re going to love me in the locker room,” Hunter said. “You’re going to enjoy my presence and love being around me daily.”
How Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter can help elevate the Chiefs back to football prominence
After three consecutive trips to the Super Bowl, the Chiefs are coming off a 6-11 season where the defense seemed to lose some of its edge. Hunter isn’t the type to shy away from competition, boasting an iron-sharpening-iron mentality. He wants his opponents at their best, even if it means he has to goad them into it with a little trash talk.
“I just be me, all the time. Be real,” Hunter said. “If I talk trash to you, I get your best. When I get your best, you get me better.”
At UCF and Texas Tech, Hunter excelled at defending the run. Since the 2023 college football season, Hunter has ranked first among defensive tackles in total tackles (146), tackles for loss or no gain (38), and run stops (81). He already has a mentality that Steve Spagnuolo preaches to his defenders: You earn the right to rush the passer by stopping the run.
“When you stop the run, you help yourself pass rush, especially when you’ve got dogs inside,” Hunter said. “So, you’ll get more 1-on-1 blocks you can beat. So, I can beat the people 1-on-1, but when you slide to me on third down, you’ve got 600 pounds on me… But when you give me a 1-on-1, I feel myself that I’m going to beat you.”
Hunter’s personal goal as he takes a leap to the NFL is to become a better pass-rusher. He ranks second among defensive tackles in QB pressures since 2023 (75), but has only produced 6.5 sacks in that time frame.
“I just want to become a better pass rusher,” Hunter said. “Attack the quarterback more. I want to touch the quarterback a little bit more, and I’m working to do that. I’m going to do that.”
2026 NFL Scouting Combine on-field workout schedule (televised on NFL Network)
- Thursday, Feb. 26 (2:00 PM – 7:00 PM CT): Defensive Linemen (DL), Linebackers (LB).
- Friday, Feb. 27 (2:00 PM – 7:00 PM CT): Defensive Backs (DB), Tight Ends (TE).
- Saturday, Feb. 28 (Noon – 7:00 PM CT): Quarterbacks (QB), Wide Receivers (WR), Running Backs (RB).
- Sunday, March 1 (Noon – 3:00 PM CT): Offensive Linemen (OL)
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