As if Arizona Cardinals fans needed any more confirmation that Walter Nolen was the right pick in the first round, he's now gaining momentum as a potential award candidate.
The Cardinals selected Nolen 16th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, passing up on offensive stars to build a dominant defensive front. At the time, the pick was praised by experts as a steal and a perfect fit.
Now, analysts are taking the praise one step further. In a recent article, ESPN analyst Ben Solak ranked the top candidates for the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards.
Walter Nolen a name to watch for Defensive Rookie of the Year award
In Solak's article, he ranked Walter Nolen sixth among potential Defensive Rookie of the Year winners. Mykel Williams, Jalon Walker, Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter, and Mason Graham were the only players listed ahead of Nolen.
Interior defensive linemen rarely win major awards. In fact, no interior defensive lineman has won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in the last decade. As Solak mentions, "It's hard for defensive tackles to accumulate counting stat production." So while Nolen's ranking on this list might seem pedestrian, it's a compliment that he's even included at his position.
Despite Nolen's positional handicap, he should still be a contender for the award. With Dalvin Tomlinson, Calais Campbell, and Darius Robinson joining him on the interior, Nolen will be able to stay fresh throughout each game. He will likely take on a pass-rush focused role in year one. Sacks are the most important stat for defensive awards, and Nolen should have the opportunity to rack up plenty of them.
In 2024, Los Angeles Rams interior defensive lineman Braden Fiske finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, earning about 20% of the votes. Fiske had just 8.5 sacks and 20 solo tackles on the season.. Those are surely numbers that Walter Nolen can beat.
Walter Nolen has the explosiveness and physical strength to string together highlight-worthy plays. His dominance will land him on the screens of football fans around the country.
If the Cardinals make the leap we expect this year and return to the playoffs, national media members will be looking for someone to credit. If Walter Nolen combines raw numbers with highlight-reel performances, he could earn enough recognition to win that coveted Defensive Rookie of the Year award.