The Ole Miss defensive tackle could be an intriguing interior prospect for the Arizona Cardinals.
Happy Friday one and all.
The Arizona Cardinals and the rest of the NFL are now under three weeks away from the 2025 NFL Draft.
We are going to finish up our top 20 today, barring something at my real job getting in the way, stupid real jobs.
Let’s kick today off with a really intriguing interior defensive line prospect who took a while to hit his stride, but when he did, he was an absolute monster.
Walter Nolen is a 6-4 296lbs defensive tackle from Ole Miss who was an All American in his one season with the Rebels.
He finished with 6.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. In his sophomore season at Texas A&M he had a good season as well, finishing with nine tackles for loss and four sacks.
So, why isn’t Nolen higher up the draft food chain?
From PFF:
Nolen isn’t the most polished interior defender, but he might be among the most physically gifted. If he continues to grow in his pre-snap plan and hand usage, he can be an impactful, versatile defensive tackle with a high floor due to his strength in run defense.
From Lance Zierlein:
He has the athletic talent to play into gaps but needs to play with better hands to keep himself clean at the point of attack. He wins as a rusher with his athleticism and play strength, and doesn’t need to be schemed for. The pass rush still requires refinement, but he already flashes quick-win moves that foreshadow good pressure and sack production as a pro. Nolen’s blend of explosiveness and playmaking talent create high upside as a three-down interior lineman.
Nolen is the type of prospect that if you need to develop a player, and have the pieces in place, he is the perfect fit.
Some comps are guys like Milton Williams or Kawann Short.
Here is where that makes you wonder.. Is that player worth a top 20 pick? Sure, if you know you are getting Williams or Short in year two or three, the answer is an easy yes.
However, how many times do those players not reach the potential?
There is a reason Williams went in the third round and Short went in the middle of round two.
I love what Nolen produced on the field and think the Cardinals have the pieces in place and infrastructure to bring him along, but I also don’t think that Nolen is the type of player you take at 16. Does that make sense?