Robert

Hunt

Lewis is dealing with a torn UCL that he hopes to eventually play through. That said, it doesn’t appear he’s recovered enough from the injury to play in Week 4 against the Bengals. In addition to Lewis, the Panthers have also listed OG Robert Hunt (hip) as questionable.

Hunt was the Dolphins’ second-round pick in the 2020 draft and has graded out as the fifth-best guard in the NFL this season, according to Pro Football Focus. Hunt has been equally adept in both pass blocking and run blocking, so his loss is a notable one. However, the Titans are also likely to be without stud defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons, so Hunt’s injury might not impact the Dolphins much in Week 14, but they’ll hope he can come back soon.

A four-year starter at right tackle in coach Billy Napier’s run-heavy offense, Hunt (6’5/323) mustered through seven games and missed most of the draft process in 2019 due to a severe groin injury. While that injury prevented him from participating in Indy’s Combine, Hunt showed above-average traits that arguably make him the cream of the crop if designated as a guard on draft weekend. Future coaches will have to improve on his tendency to strike and bury in pass-pro at the next level, but his run-blocking remains sound. With competitive starting-caliber skills, 23-year-old Hunt still projects to have an opening day role as an interior talent.

“Louisiana’s Roberthttps://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/3917592/robert-huntHunt could be a big-time guard... and instant starter in the second round,” Kiper writes. “He’s a 6-foot-5, 323-pound mauler in the running game. I’m a huge fan of his game.” The Eagles, Patriots Cardinals, Chiefs, Giants, Jets and Ravens, among others, have all touched base with Hunt (in various forms) during the evaluating season. While the wide receiver and running back groups have both been much-ballyhooed in this class, there’s all kind of strong offensive line options available for those looking to beef up their protections.

Hunt (6'5/322) is viewed as a potential Day 2 selection by some draft analysts, and he’s received a lot of attention on the pre-draft meeting circuit. In addition to the Eagles, who have a need for additional offensive line depth, and Patriots, he’s met with the Cardinals, Chiefs, Giants, Jets and Ravens just to name a few. Where Hunt plays position-wise at the next level is something to keep an eye on as well. While possessing the size and power needed to excel at tackle, the footwork could very well result in his having to move inside to guard at the next level.

Renner believes that Hunt (6-5/322) is a potential Day 2 pick, ranking him and fellow tackle-to-guard candidate Isaiah Wilson of Georgia as third-round talents. “Before Hunt was injured last season, he earned an 80.7 pass-blocking grade and 86.0 run-blocking grade for the Ragin’ Cajuns,” he writes. As Renner notes, Hunt has the size and power to be a tackle, but because of his lack of quickness, he profiles better in his eyes as an interior player rather than a bookend.

Hunt (6'5/322) has been recovering from sports hernia surgery during the evaluation process and Miller believes that the medical outlook, there, will have a part to play in just when the Louisiana standout comes off the board in April. At this juncture, Miller tags Hunt as a middle-round selection. Hunt has starter potential in the pros should he develop to his full ceiling.

Hunt (6'5/322) was a four-year starter for the Ragin’ Cajuns who played left guard all of his first year before toggling between guard and left tackle his sophomore season. However in 2018 Hunt moved to right tackle where he stuck for the next two seasons, though he only played in 7 games last year due to a groin injury that cut short his senior year in which he still was named a First-Team All-Sun Belt performer. Zierlein says Hunt possesses a “rare combination of bulk and athleticism with the physical tools to become a plus run blocker in all schemes.” His frame is NFL ready, but inconsistent footwork and pad level need improvement and he may end up sticking at guard in the NFL. Hunt is projected as a third round selection who grades out as a quality backup with the potential to start within two years.

Hunt (6'5/322) was used at right tackle during his time at Louisiana, combining with guard Kevin Dotson to make up one of the best offensive line tandems at the FBS level early in 2019. But Hunt, who missed the second half of the season with a groin injury, may need to move inside in order to be effective at the pro level. “Overall, Hunt needs to clean up some bad habits from a mechanical standpoint, but his quiet feet, loud hands and competitive nature are NFL starting-level traits, projecting best at guard,” Brugler wrote in his analysis of the Ragin’ Cajun standout. Establishing -- and maintaining -- leverage in pass protection is an area in which Hunt needs to improve in Brugler’s opinion, but the overall skill set is there for him to be a starter in the NFL. And it’s possible that he’ll need to move to guard in order to realize that potential.

Hunt (6'5/322) has accepted an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl, but he’s unable to play in either that game or Monday’s Lending Tree Bowl due to injury. But he should still hear his name called in this spring’s NFL Draft, with a shot at being a Day 2 selection. “Hunt, a Reese’s Senior Bowl invite, is a massive offensive tackle that has the skill set to handle a vast assortment of pass rushers,” DiCecco wrote in his analysis. The Louisiana redshirt senior may not be discussed among the top tackle prospects in the 2020 draft class, but he isn’t far off the pace either.