The Arizona Cardinals selected Defensive Tackle Walter Nolen with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He is coming off a solid season with the Ole Miss Rebels. He was a consensus All-American and a finalist for the Outland Trophy. This award is given to the best interior lineman in college football. Will he be able to unlock his potential with the Arizona Cardinals?
How Will Walter Nolen Fit With the Arizona Cardinals?
Nolen joins a Cardinals defense with some talent. He will play on a defensive line alongside Josh Sweat, Calais Campbell, and Dalvin Tomlinson. Arizona could have gone a variety of directions at 16th overall but decided to improve its defense.
One of the knocks against Nolen was that he was not as consistent as some evaluators would have hoped. Many believed he played below his potential with Ole Miss. He will look to unlock his lofty potential in the National Football League.
Final Thoughts
This is a solid pick for a Cardinals team looking to return to relevance. Nolen will be coached by a great defensive mind in Head Coach Jonathan Gannon and mentored by Campbell. Gannon has championship pedigree and Campbell is one of the longest-tenured players in the league. Nolen could not have asked for a better landing spot than the Arizona Cardinals. He is being set up for success.
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