The Arizona Cardinals took Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen with the No. 16 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
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The overwhelming majority of those around the league liked what the Cardinals did with the pick and think Nolen has tremendous upside.
Here is a look at how the Cardinals were graded after the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
2025 NFL Draft grades for Arizona Cardinals
Pro Football Focus
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.
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter
Grade: 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.
Arizona’s offensive line needed help, but the top players at the position were gone by the 16th pick. Receiver Matthew Golden, who went 23rd to the Packers, could have been a strong partner for Marvin Harrison Jr. outside.
Bleacher Report staff
Grade: A
When the light finally turns on for a 5-star recruit, it’s often a sight to see. Nolen flashed his potential during his two seasons with the Texas A&M Aggies, but he didn’t emerge as a full-blown force until last season at Ole Miss. The defensive tackle registered a career-high 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
More importantly, Nolen looked the part as a future game-wrecker. His quickness and lateral legibility make him a top-shelf run-stuffer, and he’s able to win as a pass-rusher when working up and down the line of scrimmage.
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.
Yahoo! Sports’ Charles McDonald
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.
CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards
Grade: B
Arizona has signed Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson after drafting Darius Robinson in the first-round a year ago. Jonathan Gannon is committed to fixing the defensive line and the Nolen is the latest addition. The former 5-star recruit is a quick penetrator that will be expected to bring down the opposing quarterback.
SI.com’s Gilberto Manzano
Grade: B
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.
Fox Sports’ Rob Rang
Grade: C+
The most disruptive interior defensive lineman of the class, Nolen is an intriguing fit for the Cardinals, especially given the addition of edge rusher Josh Sweat in free agency. Nolen was terrific at Ole Miss in 2024, but wasn’t as impressive as expected at the Senior Bowl. As such, there is some undeniable boom-or-bust factor with Nolen.
The Ringer’s Danny Kelly
Grade: C
The Cardinals keep building in the trenches, grabbing a twitchy gap-shooting lineman in Nolen. The former Ole Miss star has excellent traits and brings plenty of upside, but he plays like a bull in a china shop a little too often. He’s not consistent in his pass-rush plan, too frequently popping up off the snap and getting washed out of the play. This is a bit of a reach by my board, but if the Cardinals can develop him and get him to play with more discipline, they could have a very productive interior rusher on their hands.
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