One prospect who may interest the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft is Ole Miss interior defensive lineman, Walter Nolen. He is a 6’4”, 296-pound defensive lineman who is considered one of the top defensive prospects in the draft. The Athletic’s lead draft analyst Dane Brugler has Nolen graded as his 29th overall prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft and ranked him as the fourth-best defensive lineman in the draft.
Nolen transferred from Texas A&M to Ole Miss this past season and had himself a breakout year. He played in 13 games this past season and totaled 48 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, and 3 pass deflections.
Player Profile
Walter Nolen | Interior Defensive Lineman | Ole Miss
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 296 pounds
Hands: 9 1⁄2 inches
Arm Length: 32 1⁄2 inches
Age: 21 years old
Film Room
Scouting Report
Strengths
Very athletic and twitchy
Explosive first step
Good body control and navigates the trenches well
Strong punch and turns speed into power
High-end pass rush potential
Very good run defender who attacks the gaps and gets into the backfield
Good core strength
High upside player
Weaknesses
Needs a bit of development still
Struggles to finish the play at times
Can be overaggressive, lose sight of the ball carrier, and have missed opportunities
What other analysts are saying about Ole Miss IDL Walter Nolen
NFL Network’s lead draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah on IDL Walter Nolen
Nolen is a twitchy defensive tackle who fits best in a penetrating style of defense. Ole Miss slanted him quite often in its defensive scheme and he created some early wins versus the run and pass. As a pass rusher, he can really get off the ball with urgency and roll his hips to jolt blockers. He flashes a violent hump move and can redirect with ease. He needs to improve his vision and awareness, though. He wins a lot of battles but fails to win the war because of his inability to locate the ball. Against the run, he can generate negative plays for the offense by shooting gaps, but he gets caught and washed at times. Overall, Nolen is extremely talented and disruptive, but he hasn’t come close to reaching his potential. If he lands with the right scheme/coach, he could emerge as one of the better players in this draft class.
NFL.com’s draft analyst Lance Zierlein on IDL Walter Nolen
Nolen has NFL-starting size but won’t blow you away with his physical traits. However, he gains quick advantages with his explosiveness into contact and ability to beat up blockers when singled up. He has the athletic talent to play into gaps but needs to play with better hands to keep himself clean at the point of attack. He wins as a rusher with his athleticism and play strength, and doesn’t need to be schemed for. The pass rush still requires refinement, but he already flashes quick-win moves that foreshadow good pressure and sack production as a pro. Nolen’s blend of explosiveness and playmaking talent create high upside as a three-down interior lineman.
Final Thoughts
Nolen is one of my favorite prospects in the draft.
He is a high-upside player who is an explosive athlete with pass-rush potential that fits the Broncos defense very well. They’re an attacking defense that wants their interior defenders to get into the backfield and after the quarterback consistently. That is what Nolen does best and is someone who could flourish under defensive line coach Jamar Cain.
Keep in mind that Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, and Malcolm Roach will all be free agents at the end of the season. You have to assume that Allen will get extended at some point but adding a player like Nolen would make things a little bit easier next year. He would also add depth and strengthen the Broncos' defensive line depth. You can never have enough interior pass rushers on your roster as the Eagles proved this past year.
I would consider Nolen at 20th overall if the Broncos plan on addressing running back and tight end later in the draft. The defensive line is the strength of this class and adding one of the better ones should be a priority for the Broncos.
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