Walter

Nolen

Nolen winds up with only 169 defensive snaps in 2025 between a Week 1-8 calf injury, a Week 12-14 knee injury, and this latest cart-off against the Falcons in Week 16. He had a 74.1 PFF defensive grade, but obviously the Cardinals will be hoping for a little more availability going forward in the second year of Nolen’s rookie contract.

Nolen was knocked down after getting tangled up in a block. He returned to his feet and attempted to step forward in pursuit of Falcons QB Kirk Cousins but pulled up, grabbing at his left knee. He was ruled out shortly thereafter. The Cardinals also ruled out EDGE Josh Sweat (ankle), after he was initially questionable to return.

This is unfortunate. The Cardinals’ first-round rookie missed Weeks 1-8 with a calf injury. In his short time active, Nolen racked up five quarterback pressures, one sack, six tackles and two TFLs. On the Jaguars’ second drive today, Cardinals S Jalen Thompson hit QB Trevor Lawrence from behind, during the windup, which sent the ball toward Nolen, who caught it with his right hand as he fended off a Jaguars blocker with his left. Nolen took off toward the end zone, dove, was hit in the air by a Cardinals player and tumbled into the end zone, scoring the pick-six. The Cardinals also announced OG Will Hernandez (hip) is questionable to return.

The 16th overall selection will plug into Arizona’s defensive line rotation immediately. The Cardinals also activated CB Garrett Williams from injured reserve ahead of tonight’s game against the Cowboys.

Nolen suffered the calf injury in training camp and has been on the PUP list ever since. He now has 21 days to be activated from the PUP list and will practice for the first time today. The No. 16 overall pick was a force to be reckoned with against both the run and pass in college. He was expected to help revamp Arizona’s front seven, but the injury has prevented him from doing so thus far.

Nolen was selected with the No. 16 overall pick in the first round of this year’s draft but suffered a calf injury while gearing up for camp, something that will now cost the talented rookie at least four games. The Cardinals have been dealt multiple blows on the defensive side of the ball before the season even started, with linebacker BJ Ojulari and defensive tackle Bilal Nichols also on the PUP list to start the season. The Cardinals also waived DL Kyon Barrs, LS Aaron Brewer, LB Elliott Brown, OL Jeremiah Byers, RB Michael Carter, OL Jake Curhan, RB DeeJay Dallas, TE Josiah Deguara, WR Simi Fehoko, DL Anthony Goodlow, WR Bryson Green, CB Darren Hall, OL Sincere Haynesworth, CB Jaylon Jones, OL Nick Leverett, OL Royce Newman, WR Tejhuan Palmer, S Jammie Robinson, DL Elijah Simmons, and LB Mykal Walker.

Arizona’s No. 16 overall pick will head to the sidelines for the start of his first training camp as a pro. Nolen was a high-ceiling defensive tackle at Ole Miss who needed to show more consistency in his game. A lack of practice time isn’t going to do him any favors. Though the Cardinals’ defense should improve in Gannon’s second year on the headset, they aren’t off to a great start. Linebacker BJ Ojulari and defensive tackle Bilal Nichols were also placed on the PUP list.

The deal includes a fifth-year option for the Cardinals. Nolen showed flashes of future All-Pro play at Ole Miss and was one of the most physically-imposing players in the draft. Jonathan Gannon will be tasked with making those flashes become the standard. Nolen will likely break in as part of a rotation with Calais Campbell, Darius Robinson, and Justin Jones up front early in the season.

The No. 1 overall recruit from the 2022 prep cycle, Nolen (6’4/296) was the crown jewel of Texas A&M’s best all-time recruiting class. He rotated through the Aggies defensive front shuttling between three tech and edge for two seasons, earning a middling 72.5 overall grade in 2023 with 21 stops and zero missed tackles. He left College Station following Jimbo Fisher’s firing and blossomed into a fully-formed, game-wrecking three tech for Ole Miss. Nolen ranked second nationally with a 91.6 run grade and fifth with 26 stops on running downs. The First Team All-American is a bit undersized at 296 pounds but he is able to uncoil and strike with the force of a much larger man thanks to his impressive raw power. A plus athlete who has a brisk get off and can keep blockers off balance with speed or power, Nolen can rush the passer with an undisciplined technical approach and get away with it thanks to his physical gifts. However in the run game he plays with outstanding leverage routinely discarding blockers and breaking through double teams. A true havoc creator on the interior, Nolen needs to work on secondary rush moves but has every-down starter potential.

Dulac added that defensive tackle prospects Mason Graham, Walter Nolen, Derrick Harmon and Kenneth Grant sit atop the Steelers’ draft board. Pittsburgh has reportedly offered Aaron Rodgers a one-year deal and are “willing to wait” for his decision, at least for now. Dulac notes that the Steelers “are still spooked by the whole Kenny Pickett evaluation,” adding that “they took the best quarterback in a very average draft class, and I don’t think they want to make that mistake again.” Per Dulac, both Dart and Sanders will be “in the conversation” for the Steelers, if their preferred defensive linemen prospects are gone, but the pecking order is believed to be “defensive line, running back, wide receiver and quarterback, and you throw a cornerback in there somewhere.” Dulac firmly believes that the Steelers are “all in” on trading up for a “marquee” quarterback prospect in 2026, if nothing pans out this year.