Let’s take a look around the web at some of the initial grades on the Arizona Cardinals first round pick.
Happy Friday one and all.
We are heading into day two of the 2025 NFL Draft, and one thing we like to do is see how the movement of the ultra reactionary grading changes from Friday after round one, to Monday after all the dust has settled.
So, how did the Arizona Cardinals do in their instant reaction grades? Let’s take a look.
NFL.com Chad Reuter – Arizona Cardinals – A
The Cardinals continue to rebuild their defensive line, taking Nolen after signing Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency. Campbell is 38 years old, though, so pairing Nolen with last year’s first-round pick, Darius Robinson, portends a strong future up front. Nolen, who can play as a 1-, 3- or 5-technique, has the get-off, powerful hands and quickness to become a star.
16. Cardinals: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Grade: B
He is a good inside player who will team with Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson to give them upgrades inside on a line that needed it. Nolen has big-time ability, but he needs to be more consistent and dedicated to the craft.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss – Grade: B+
Monti Ossenfort is going all in on his defensive front in 2025. After adding edge rusher Josh Sweat and defensive linemen Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell in free agency, Arizona kept pushing by bringing on Nolen. A massively disruptive but still inconsistent interior penetrator, Nolen can ease into work and learn behind a fine mentor in Campbell, the 38-year-old who can help him unlock his full potential.
Yahoo! Sports Charles McDonald
16. Arizona Cardinals: DT Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)
Grade: B+
The Cardinals got a lot more disruptive with this pick. Walter Nolen has all the upside in the world to be an impact 3-technique at the next level and has a higher floor than Robert Nkemdiche, the last Ole Miss defensive tackle they selected in the first round. Nolen’s play is a bit streaky, but the big-play potential with Nolen is here in droves.
16) Arizona Cardinals: DI Walter Nolen, Mississippi
Pick Grade: Elite
The Cardinals add another extremely talented player to amplify their defensive front. As a plus run defender, Nolen earned the second-highest PFF run-defense grade in the FBS this past season (91.6). The seventh-ranked prospect on the PFF Big Board will instantly upgrade an Arizona defense that ranked 27th in EPA allowed per rush in 2024.
16. Arizona Cardinals
Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Nolen showed flashes of being a game-wrecker in his lone season at Ole Miss. He’ll now join a revamped defensive line in Arizona that just added edge rusher Josh Sweat and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson.
After two sluggish years at Texas A&M, it clicked for Nolen with his new team, becoming a consensus All-American and first-team All-SEC. Nolen had a team-high 14 tackles for loss and added 6.5 sacks. Developing consistency is key for Nolen, but there’s no denying his high upside after what he flashed at Ole Miss. —GM
Grade: B
Grade: A
Few prospects in this year’s class have as much natural upside and game-changing ability as Nolen, who has similar qualities to former Eagle defensive tackle Milton Williams. He should fit right in along the Cardinals’ defensive line.
I don’t know how to grade “Elite” I am guessing that is a strong “A”, but it feels like a consensus B+ so far, which is about all you want.
Good player, lot of upside, can he reach that potential and continue to grow into the game-wrecker everyone sees?
Especially good pick when you know he doesn’t have to be a massive piece in year one (barring injuries) and can learn from two of the better pros in the league in Campbell and Tomlinson.