The New England Patriots started two rookies on their offensive line in the Super Bowl and the inexperience proved costly. Throughout the night, the Seattle Seahawks‘ defensive front was able to generate pressure on quarterback Drake Maye with just four rushers, as New England allowed six sacks.
Despite the obvious need for improvement to their offensive line, an early mock draft has the Patriots turning their attention to the other side of the ball. In The Big Lead’s post-Super Bowl mock draft, Jeff Risdon predicts the Patriots to reinforce their defensive line and pick defensive tackle Lee Hunter out of Texas Tech.
“Hunter compares nicely to 2025 Lions first-rounder Tyleik Williams as a hybrid nose tackle/3-tech with upside,” Risdon writes.
Lee Hunter is a top 50 player for me. 330-lb NT with heavy hands and a very quick first step for his size. Comfortably the most detailed and instinctive pass rusher in the ’26 NT class pic.twitter.com/NC3o1WNdu9
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) December 10, 2025
Hunter offers versatility up front
In a game where New England’s inefficiency on offense was the main storyline, the Patriots’ defense was largely overlooked after holding Seattle to only field goals until the fourth quarter.
Free agent additions K’Lavon Chaisson and Khyiris Tonga played key roles in that effort. Chaisson posted career highs in sacks and pressures and Tonga was a pillar on the Patriots’ run defense that only allowed 3.1 yards per carry in the playoffs.
Both players now enter the offseason as unrestricted free agents, and although they have both expressed a desire to re-sign with the Patriots, both are expected to command significant raises on the open market.
With questions around them returning to New England, the addition of Hunter would add a versatile piece that could slot into the Patriots’ line and do both the jobs of Chaisson and Tonga.
Pro Football Sports and Network draft analyst Ian Cummings described Hunter as, “the most dynamic pass-rushing nose tackle in the class, with uncanny agility and initial burst.”
Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter is one of the most complete interior defensive line prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. 😤@IC_Draft called Hunter “the most dynamic pass-rushing nose tackle in the class, with uncanny agility and initial burst.” 👀
The Red Raiders star posted an 81.9 PFSN… pic.twitter.com/3g8jaMfge5
— PFSN College (@PFSNcollege) February 10, 2026
Hunters’ skill set could add a new dimension to the Patriots’ defense, who, despite finishing the regular season ranked fourth in total defense, struggled to generate QB pressures, finishing near the bottom of the league.
In addition, opting to invest in Hunter rather than resigning one of the defensive linemen could free up resources that the Patriots could use to continue to build their offensive line.
While fans might gripe at the idea of not spending a first-round draft pick on a glaring need, this flexibility could make New England a more well-rounded team in the future.
