Luke Kuechly speaks: Panthers' NFL Draft pick Lee Hunter fits with 'idol' Derrick Brown

One of the NFL franchise's all-time top linebackers, Luke Kuechly, remains eager to see what the Carolina Panthers' defense will look like in 2026.

Kuechly envisions 2024 Pro Bowler Derrick Brown and Tershawn Wharton or Bobby Brown III lining up next to rookie nose tackle Lee Hunter, flanked by high-priced edge Jaelan Phillips and emerging sophomore Nic Scourton.

Entering the Panthers' offseason training activities this summer, the Panthers appear to have addressed any defensive front concerns. 

"I think that when we walk out there that first day of training camp, and those guys are fully padded up, they're going to look gigantic," Kuechly told current Panthers longsnapper and former teammate JJ Jansen.

Panthers rookie Lee Hunter at center of new-look DL

Listed at 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, Hunter played over 500 snaps over the past three seasons at Texas Tech, posting a 17.5 percent win rate on true pass sets. His 11.9 percent stop rate paced draft-eligible defensive linemen.

Some NFL insiders suggested that Dan Morgan was reached when the Panthers general manager selected Hunter in the second round (No. 49 overall) last Friday. Most draft gurus listed Hunter with a third-round grade, but Morgan didn't take a chance on missing out on the wanted the 2025 second-team All-American. 

Over the past three seasons, Hunter, who called Brown his "idol," ranked first among qualified defensive tackles in tackles (146), tackles for loss/no gain (38), and run stops (81).

Kuechly sees the value. With Huner, Brown will not be forced to play along the middle of the 3-4 defensive front.  

"Your best player on the defensive line is Derrick Brown, hands down," he said. "You don't want to get caught in a position where you have him play out of his best position to fill a need because he's that type of football player.  

"So, now you've got Bobby Brown (and Wharton) and now you've got Lee Hunter, who can play that true nose spot. 

"And then you have Jaelan Phillips and Nic Scourton ... I think it's pretty good."