It's the worst-kept secret that defensive tackle is a massive roster void for the Green Bay Packers, even after signing Javon Hargrave in free agency. Ideally, they would take care of it with their second-round pick in the NFL Draft. The issue is that by the time they're on the clock, some of the prospects they're targeting may no longer be available.
Sure, it helps that the Cincinnati Bengals traded for Dexter Lawrence, so that's one fewer team that's in need of defensive tackle help before the Packers pick.
But even if some of the top defensive tackles are still available at No. 52, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report is urging Green Bay to steer clear.
Lee Hunter would be a risky pick for the Packers at No. 52
Ballentine drew up a list of draft prospects each NFL team should avoid. For the Packers, he chose Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter, arguing that his athleticism leaves much to be desired.
"Lee Hunter is an interior defender that has been connected to them in mock drafts as a second-rounder," Ballentine wrote. "He's the 40th-ranked prospect on our big board, so getting him at No. 52 would seem like a steal. The problem is that Hunter's athleticism doesn't line up with the Packers philosophy of drafting. They tend to target defenders with high relative athletic scores, and Hunter's testing was below average with a relative athletic score of 4.07."
On top of that, Ballentine cites B/R colleague Matt Holder to point out that his technique needs refinement. When you add it all up, Green Bay may be better off passing up on Hunter.
Having said that, Hunter is no slouch, and there's a reason he's projected to go Round 2. Heck, the Packers even hosted him for a visit, so he's clearly on their radar. Despite the athleticism concerns and his lack of pass-rush moves, he's flashed the ability to bring the heat. Granted, he's far from a finished product, but he could turn out to be a productive pass rusher down the road.
Hunter lands at No. 43 in FanSided's top-50 board and more or less pops up at that spot in most big rankings, meaning that the consensus sees his talent... along with his flaws.
Hunter could ultimately be a risky bet, but one that might pay massive dividends.
Should the Packers steer clear of Lee Hunter in the NFL Draft?
Despite his shortcomings, Hunter most definitely deserves consideration with the 52nd overall selection. If defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon works his magic, he could turn out to be a great pick-up. On the other hand, he's far from the only option Green Bay will have.
Aside from the interior defensive line, the Packers must also bolster the interior offensive line, the cornerback position, and the pass rush. Going after Chase Bisontis or Gennings Dunker would make sense if they want to beef up the offensive trenches. Meanwhile, Chris Johnson sliding to Round 2 would be a dream come true. Of course, the team's brass is also missing a bookend pass rusher for Micah Parsons, so zeroing in on someone like Derrick Moore or Cashius Howell wouldn't be a bad idea.
The truth is that the Packers will have no shortage of options, and as long as they come out of Round 2 with a game-altering talent, it won't matter who they pick. If general manager Brian Gutekunst believes Lee Hunter should be the pick, so be it.
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