The Philadelphia Eagles are not immune to taking gambles on players who may have character concerns to add to their team.
This is the team that signed Michael Vick to a contract fresh out of prison. They also drafted Georgia star Jalen Carter after the youngster was involved in a car crash that killed two people.
One thing the Eagles look to do when taking those character concerns, though, is surrounding them with a welcoming culture that gives each player a chance to fully rectify their mistakes.
That's why, among many reasons, NFL.com's latest Mock Draft from Chad Reuter believes the team could be prime to take another character concern player in ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen.
" Why change something that works?" Reuter wrote. "Philadelphia moves up in Round 1 for a defensive lineman once again -- after doing so to acquire Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis -- plugging Nolen into the void left by free-agent departure Milton Williams. The Eagles give the Rams their late third-round pick and one of four fifth-rounders in order to move up six spots, while also receiving a sixth-round pick from Los Angeles in the deal."
Nolen has the tools and skill set to be a sure-fire top-15 pick in the upcoming Draft.
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The issue? Character concerns have popped up all throughout the pre-draft process with many teams reportedly taking the 21-year-old off their draft boards. It is currently unclear if the Eagles are one of those teams.
Philadelphia can surround a player like Nolen with excellent character individuals like linebacker Nakobe Dean and Jordan Davis. If they feel confident they can keep Nolen in check, he would be a no-brainer for the team.
That is certainly a big "if" as we get closer to the NFL Draft.
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This story was originally published March 23, 2025 at 12:00 PM.