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0:252025 NFL Draft Grades: Cardinals Select Walter Nolen No. 16
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1:152025 NFL Draft DT Rankings: No. 2 Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)
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1:23Smoke Dixon's USA Today Preseason All-American snub: Walter Nolen | 247Sports Unfiltered
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0:432025 NFL Draft Grades: Panthers Select Princely Umanmielen No. 77
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0:382025 NFL Draft Grades: Commanders Select Trey Amos No. 61
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0:372025 NFL Draft Grades: Charges Select Tre Harris No. 55
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2:39Walter Nolen drafted No. 16 overall by the Arizona Cardinals
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4:43Jaxson Dart drafted No. 25 overall by the New York Giants
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0:332025 NFL Draft Grades: Giants Select Jaxson Dart No. 25
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1:05Aditi Kinkhabwala: "Jaxson Dart is not going to fall beyond that No. 9 pick and the Saints"
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0:31Saints interested in Ole Miss QB Jaxon Dart?
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2:04Delano Townsend talks decision to transfer to Ole Miss, offensive line unit
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3:49De'Zhaun Stribling talks decision to transfer to Ole Miss, wide receivers room
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6:28Lane Kiffin talks Ole Miss spring football, offseason drama elsewhere
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5:07Austin Simmons talks expectations as Ole Miss quarterback
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0:512025 NFL Draft Top CBs: No. 4 Trey Amos (Ole Miss)
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1:21Trinidad Chambliss adds a new wrinkle to Ole Miss's offense
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1:21Rams find Matthew Stafford's heir in round 1
Draft Scouting Report
Rating: 89.00 (Pro Bowl potential)
Pro Comparison: Breeland Speaks
Summary
Walter Nolen has the size and athleticism to play multiple positions along the defensive line. He shows good flexibility to bend, dip and get under blockers, but also plays high at times. With upper body strength, Nolen is able to hold gaps and shows pass-rush moves to get into gaps. There are times he could play with more urgency, and his secondary action off contact is only average.
About
- 2024: 14th Consensus All-American in Ole Miss history (first since WR Elijah Moore in 2020)
- 2024: Ranked as the No. 5 run-stopper in the FBS with a grade of 91.7, per Pro Football Focus. Also had a 12.3% run-stop rate, which ranked second in the nation
Strengths
- Good size and carries it well
- Good job setting up pass-rush moves
- Good play strength to hold up at the point of attack
Weaknesses
- Average first-step quickness; would like to see him play with more urgency at times
- Counter moves and burst off contact
- Plays high at times
Top Walter Nolen News
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Cardinals' Walter Nolen: Goes to Cardinals at 16 overall
The Cardinals selected Nolen in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 16th overall.
Nolen is still coming into his own as a 21-year-old interior defensive lineman, but the potential is there. A five-star recruit out of high school, Nolen played two collegiate seasons at Texas A&M before transferring to Mississippi for his final year. He blossomed at Ole Miss with 14 tackles for loss and a career-best 6.5 sacks. Athletically, he has a similar frame to fellow first-rounder Mason Graham at 6-foot-4 and 296 pounds. Though Nolen did not participate in drills, the tape shows him to be athletic for his position. He projects to play defensive tackle in Arizona's four-man front.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-3, 305 lbs |
| Birthplace: Powell, TN |
| Age: 21 |
