Get ready for the 2025 NFL Draft with our spotlight on Walter Nolen. Get the breakdown on their strengths and weaknesses in our scouting report, understand their potential with our draft profile, and see where experts predict they’ll land.
Walter Nolen’s NFL Draft Scouting Report
Walter Nolen is an athletic 3-technique defensive tackle, which is a valuable asset in today’s NFL. Combine that with his leap in production in 2024 and his top-notch pedigree, and it’s not hard to see why many are high on him entering the NFL.
Although he’s only 21 years old, Nolen has shown improvement as a technician. He still has more development to undergo, but the arrow is trending up, and he gives coaches an elite talent to work with. At 6’3″, 296 pounds, with over 33″ arms, Nolen’s power profile is spectacular, and his hyper-elite explosive capacity enables him to function as a battering ram when exerting power in both phases.
His pad level can drift high at times, but his raw power can be difficult for blockers to hold at bay in either phase. Gifted young prospects with production at a Power Four level simply don’t often fall out of the first round.
Looking for more analysis on prospects? Here’s our defensive tackle scouting reports for the 2025 NFL Draft and all other positions.
Walter Nolen’s Latest NFL Draft Projection
PFSN’s Ian Cummings projected Nolen to be drafted 32nd in his most recent 7-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft.
Cummings said, “If Walter Nolen falls to No. 32, it’s going to be difficult for the Philadelphia Eagles to pass. At 6’4″, 296 pounds, with near-33” arms, he has the build and the hyper-elite explosive capacity to underly an overwhelming power profile, and in 2024, he wreaked havoc.
“Nolen can pick up Milton Williams’ role alongside Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter without missing a beat, and there’s only room to keep growing as he refines his pad level in the run game. Nolen can be a game-wrecker with his raw talent if he can stay dialed in.”
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Walter Nolen’s NFL Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’3″
- Weight: 305 pounds
- Position: Defensive Tackle
- School: Ole Miss
- Hand: 948
- Arm: 3248
- Wing: 7858
Where Does Walter Nolen Rank Among 2025’s DT Prospects?
Here are the top 10 DT rankings for the 2025 NFL Draft, according to PFSN Draft Analyst Ian Cummings:
10. T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
9. Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
8. Darius Alexander, Toledo
7. CJ West, Indiana
6. Alfred Collins, Texas
5. Kenneth Grant, Michigan
4. Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
3. Derrick Harmon, Oregon
2. Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
1. Mason Graham, Michigan
For a long time, there have been premonitions of Walter Nolen’s NFL Draft ascent. He was a five-star recruit in the 2022 cycle, and an immediate contributor at Texas A&M. But Nolen’s 6.5-sack, 14-TFL All-American 2024 campaign is what made him a potential first-rounder.
Nolen has one of the most compelling power profiles in the 2025 NFL Draft at 6’3″, 293 pounds, with near-34″ arms. His leverage and proportional length enable him to channel devastating force, but it’s his hyper-elite explosive capacity that sources his momentum.
In the past, Nolen operated more as a battering ram at 3-tech and 5-tech, but in 2024, his usage and his execution appeared more varied. There’s still room to keep growing, but his explosive element is a lot to handle in run defense, and his counter game is trending up.
Want more rankings? Here’s our NFL Draft Big Board for this year’s draft class. You can also make your own with the PFSN Big Board Builder.
Walter Nolen’s College Stats
Career:
- Solo Tackles: 62
- Tackles: 114
- Tackles For Loss: 26
- Passes Defended: 4
2024:
- Solo Tackles: 25
- Tackles: 48
- Tackles For Loss: 14
- Passes Defended: 3