In the 2025 NFL Draft, general manager Monti Ossenfort chose to select Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen III, who had put up very solid numbers with the Rebels, with the No. 16 overall pick.
However, during the team’s training camp in July, Nolen ended up sustaining a calf injury that sidelined him for the Cardinals' first seven games of the season. He made his debut against the Dallas Cowboys and put up an exceptional performance, recording his first career sack along with four total tackles.
Nolen would go on to score his first career defensive touchdown in Week 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
However, his season would end abruptly in Week 16 after sustaining a meniscus injury that saw him leave the field on a cart.
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As we approach the NFL Draft, Mike LaFleur is confident that Nolen is trending in the right direction, but refused to get into the specifics surrounding it.
“I’m not gonna get into the specifics of exactly what he had, I just know he’s looking good.” — Mike LaFleur
The Cardinals' defensive line is looking to take a big leap forward in 2026, with Walter Nolen hopefully able to rebound in his second year alongside Josh Sweat and Calais Campbell.
Defense proved to be a massive issue for Arizona in 2025, especially since they were unable to keep up with three potent offenses in the NFC West with Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
If Nolen can stay healthy, we can expect the pass rush to improve mightily, but that is still a massive question at this point.