With recent projections, Ole Miss Defensive Tackle Walter Nolen is currently shooting up in most analysts’ estimations, with some predicting him to go within the first ten rounds.
With the 2025 NFL Draft hours away, where could this talented tackle be playing his rookie season?
Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen Projected to Go Top-10 to NFC South Team
According to ESPN’s 2025 NFL Draft Rankings, Ole Miss prospect Walter Nolen is the third-best defensive tackle in this year’s draft class, with Michigan’s Mason Graham topping the class.
Despite being ranked as the third-best defensive tackle in this year’s draft class, Nolen is projected to go before notable names like Mason Graham or Derrick Harmon by The Ringer analyst Todd McShay. The analyst currently projects Nolen to the Carolina Panthers, who have the eighth pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
“I’m told by a reliable source that Carolina is looking to trade back and might take less than fair value to do so. If Jeanty is still on the board, this could be the spot where Denver moves up to get him,” McShay explains.
“But if the Panthers can’t move out, and with Walker gone, I think it will come down to Nolen, Shemar Stewart, Mykel Williams, or Tetairoa McMillan here,” McShay explained.
Many view Nolen as a powerful interior defensive tackle who can be a reliable asset when defending the run game due to his strength. Last season, Carolina had the worst run defense in the entire league, allowing 24 rushing touchdowns and averaging 179.8 rushing yards per game. Therefore, Walter Nolen would theoretically be a top pick for the franchise.
Other Draft Experts Predicting Walter Nolen Won’t Last Long on Draft Boards
With many recently projecting the Ole Miss defensive tackle to fall to Pick No. 32, to last year’s Super Bowl winners, NFL Network Draft Expert Daniel Jeremiah explained why he doesn’t believe Nolen will fall to the Eagles.
“I would say it’s unlikely that he falls that low,” Jeremiah said. “He’s just too explosive and in a passing league, I can’t see him getting there.”
“But if you asked me if Nolan Smith was going to get there, I would have said no. If you had asked me if Cooper DeJean was going to be there in the second round, I would have said no. Look, you always prepare for it, and you always be pleasantly surprised by who falls.”
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Jeremiah also backed up McShay’s predictions, claiming that he wouldn’t be surprised to see the Ole Miss Defensive Tackle going within the first 15 picks.
“I think he could end up going — if he went in the top 15, I wouldn’t be shocked,” Jeremiah claimed.
We will find out whether McShay and Jeremiah are right, with the first round of the NFL Draft set to begin on Thursday from Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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