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New and Huge Defender Enter Vikings’ Mock Draft Orbit

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Texas Tech DT Lee Hunter in 2025
Jul 8, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Texas Tech defensive lineman Lee Hunter answers questions from the media during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings have not featured a consistent and true nose tackle in their defense since Dalvin Tomlinson left the team a few years ago. And before Tomlinson, Linval Joseph was the last guy; he left after the 2019 campaign. So when some recent mock drafts have connected Minnesota to Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter, few have complained.

Minnesota’s interior remains a priority, and Hunter’s blend of power and movement is starting to look like a realistic fit.

Hunter could be gettable in Round 2, and the Vikings cannot be ruled out of his sweepstakes.

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Hunter Enters Minnesota’s Draft Mix

Get to know the name Lee Hunter.

Lee Hunter signaling from the field during a Texas Tech game. Vikings mock draft Lee Hunter.
Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter signals toward the sideline during second-quarter action at Milan Puskar Stadium, shown on Nov 29, 2025, as the Red Raiders faced West Virginia. The image captures in-game communication and awareness from the interior defender while Texas Tech managed personnel and alignment adjustments in a road environment. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images

Mock Drafts Go on Spree of Hunter to Vikings

Hunter turned heads with an impressive Senior Bowl showing last week, and accordingly, he’s entered Minnesota’s mock draft fold.

ESPN’s Matt Miller recently mock-drafted Hunter to the Vikings in Round 2 and noted, “The Vikings badly need to get younger and hit on picks outside Round 1. Hunter might eventually move into the first round after a superstrong Senior Bowl week and could start right away as a nose tackle or 1-technique.”

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Over at A to Z Sports, Tyler Forness did the same thing: “The Vikings didn’t have a nose tackle last season, choosing to prioritize the pass rush over a solid run defense. To a point, it worked, as the Vikings had the No. 7 overall defense and the No. 2 pass defense. What would it look like with a penetrating run-defender who can also attack as a pass rusher?”

“Hunter was on the best defensive line in the nation this season, and he continued to force double teams due to his combination of quick penetration and power. This could take a huge step forward on a defensive unit that honestly doesn’t need it.”

At this time on the NFL calendar, most of the buzz hits Round 1 hopefuls, but Hunter has wiggled into Minnesota’s Round 2 orbit.

The Hunter Details

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Hunter is 6’3″ and 330 pounds. He’ll turn 24 by the time the regular season starts, so it’s not like the Vikings would onboard the youngest of rookies. Perhaps that age has nudged him down to Round 2 in most mock drafts. Hunter is known for run defense and speed at his size. He also has a lengthy college resume, so in theory, he may not need a redshirt year in the NFL.

NFL Draft Buzz‘s Andrew Moore on Hunter: “The combination of size, power, and proven production against Power Four competition makes Hunter a safe mid-round selection who should contribute immediately on run downs. His floor is higher than his ceiling given the athletic limitations and lack of pass-rush diversity, but teams investing a Day 3 pick will receive a player who understands his role and consistently delivers what he does well.”

“Hunter won’t become a Pro Bowl interior rusher, but he has the traits to develop into a dependable rotation player who earns starter snaps if he improves his conditioning and maintains consistent effort. The tape shows a physically impressive defender who needs refinement rather than a project, making him attractive for teams seeking immediate depth with developmental upside.”

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein’s take: “Hunter is a two-gapping nose tackle for odd or even fronts. He has the size, strength and length to do battle in the heart of the trenches but requires better block take-on technique to sit firmer in his grass. He won’t win in the gaps, but he can stack and shed single blocks or slide and stabilize his run fit against zone blocks.”

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“Hunter’s girth and length are advantages when aligning over the center as a run defender. He doesn’t have enough quickness or skill as a rusher to see many passing downs, but he can dent the pocket with his power. Hunter projects as an early down space-eater who can make interior offensive linemen work for their gaps.”

What a DT Room Might Look Like

If the Vikings fulfill the prophecies from Miller and Forness, scooping Hunter from Round 2 of the draft, the 2026 DT unit might look like this:

  • Jalen Redmond
  • Jonathan Allen
  • Javon Hargrave
  • Lee Hunter
  • Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
  • Levi Drake Rodriguez
  • Elijah Williams

There are also some early offseason whispers that Minnesota will cut Hargrave as a cap casualty, making the DT need more front and center in the draft.

Lee Hunter practicing at the Senior Bowl
Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter works through drills during National Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium, framed on Jan 29, 2026, in Mobile. The moment highlights Hunter’s evaluation setting, emphasizing technique, leverage, and movement as NFL scouts observed interior prospects competing in a controlled, pro-style environment. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

The Vikings haven’t used Round 1 or 2 draft capital on a defensive tackle since 2013.

Consensus Big Board

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Nose tackles don’t often rumble their way into Round 1. Per the Consensus Big Board as of early February, Hunter is considered No. 37 to be drafted in April, deemed as the type of player who could slip into the back section of the 1st Round or anywhere in Round 2.

New Vikings interim general manager Rob Brzezinski is scheduled to pick 18th in Round 1 and 49th in Round 2. With a bit of a slide, Hunter could be available at No. 49.

Lee Hunter speaking to the media after a game
Texas Tech defensive tackle Lee Hunter addresses reporters following a road victory at Milan Puskar Stadium, captured after the final whistle on Nov 29, 2025. The scene reflects postgame reflection and composure, offering a glimpse of Hunter handling media responsibilities after a physical defensive performance against West Virginia. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images

It’s also worth noting that Minnesota needs defensive secondary help this offseason, a cornerback and a safety, and the 1st-Round pick could be used on one of the positions.

The Vikings haven’t drafted a player from Texas Tech in nearly 30 years: defensive back Tony Darden in 1998.


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‘KKR fully aware’: Cricket Australia forced to clarify on Cameron Green after Rahane’s ‘ask CA’ jibe | Cricket News

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‘KKR fully aware’: Cricket Australia forced to clarify on Cameron Green after Rahane’s ‘ask CA’ jibe
Cameron Green’s non-availability as a bowler had trigged a sharp response from KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane (IPL/BCCI)

Cricket Australia have been forced to put out a clarification on why Australian allrounder Cameron Green is not allowed to bowl for his franchise Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026, after skipper Ajinkya Rahane took a swipe at the Australian board when asked about Green’s abstinence from bowling duties during KKR’s opening fixture against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Sunday.KKR failed to defend a total of 220, with Rahane blaming it on the inexperienced bowling unit and the true nature of the Wankhede track – the same strip which saw nearly 500 runs being scored in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal between India and England earlier this month.KKR have been grappling with injuries, and Rahane conceded that the non-availability of Green as a bowler dented the team’s balance.“I think when hopefully Green starts to bowl soon, the combination will be slightly different,” said Rahane during the post-match interaction. “At the moment, we have to see the balance and who can bowl well for us. Batting-wise, as I said, we batted really well, but finding that balance with the ball is really important. So, hopefully, Green starts to bowl soon, then we can find out whether the combination will be okay.And when asked why the 26-year-old was not bowling, he shot back, saying, “That question you need to ask Cricket Australia,” leaving the on-air commentators Ravi Shastri and Kevin Pietersen speechless for a bit.However, Cricket Australia responded to Rahane’s remarks, stating that Green is suffering from a lower back injury and KKR were made fully aware of the situation beforehand.“Cameron has a lower back injury which is being managed but requires him to abstain from bowling for a short period,” a CA spokesperson said, as quoted by FOX Sports.“Cameron is currently rebuilding his bowling loads in India with a view to return in around 10–12 days’ time. KKR has been communicated with and is fully aware of this information,” the report further stated, attributing it to the spokesperson.Green, the most expensive buy of the IPL 2026 auction at INR 25.20 Cr, came out to bat at one-down, scoring 18 off 10 balls, but was not pressed into action with the ball as Mumbai Indians batters made merry against an inexperienced KKR bowling unit. Every KKR bowler was taken to the cleaners by Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton of Mumbai Indians, who combined for an opening stand of 148 in just 11.1 overs.Vaibhav Arora was taken for 52 runs in his four overs, while Blessing Muzarabani leaked 34 runs in his three overs. Kartik Tyagi, the impact sub, returned figures of 4-0-43-1. But the biggest letdown for KKR were their spin twins — Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy — who proved ineffective on the Wankhede track, giving away 78 runs between them in seven overs.

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UI bug fixes, sprint issue fix, and more

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Following a major patch release earlier, the developers have added several hotfix updates to Crimson Desert on March 30, 2026. Pearl Abyss has a dedicated space where players can report in-game issues, and it’s commendable that those bugs are being fixed quickly. The latest adjustments fix numerous UI features and in-game interactions.

Here are all of the included hotfixes mentioned in Crimson Desert Patch Notes Version 1.01.01.


All Crimson Desert hotfixes released with patch version 1.01.01

A hotfix with several fixes is going out across all platforms. For the best experience, we recommend receiving this latest patch. Please check the below notice for details and to see if it’s available for download on your platform.

With Crimson Desert patch 1.01.00 improving plenty of in-game mechanics, and also adding more content to the title, the hotfix patch version 1.01.01 fixes a total of eight bugs. These updates are available for all platforms, including PC, Mac, PlayStation, and Xbox. And as for PC (Steam), the update size is only 208 MB.

With that said, here are the fixes included in patch version 1.01.01:

  • “Fixed an issue where the “Use” button for the Talisman of the 5 new mounts appeared on Damiane and Oongka.
  • Fixed an issue where Blackstar remained flying in place after death instead of disappearing.
  • Fixed an issue where the A.T.A.G was not destroyed even when its Health reached 0.
  • Fixed an issue where the UI for selecting a tempering target became unavailable in certain conditions.
  • Fixed an issue where holding down the button to follow NPCs during missions on horseback caused the horse to move abnormally.
  • Fixed an issue where Sprint could not be used while riding the White Bear.
  • Fixed an issue where the controls became unavailable while using “Examine” with the Constellation Helm.
  • Fixed an issue where Refinement of equipment was not possible for Damiane and Oongka.”

The White Bear is one of the legendary mounts that came with patch 1.01.00, and the developers have already included a bug fix around its riding interaction. With all the recent updates, it’s fair to say that if the community raises an issue (that potentially needs fixing), Pearl Abyss might fix it in time.

Also read: How to summon companions in Crimson Desert

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This covers all the hotfixes mentioned in Crimson Desert Patch Notes Version 1.01.01.

Check out more related gameplay guides below: