Draft Profile: Walter Nolen
Defensive Tackle, Ole Miss
6’4, 295 lbs.
Projected: First Round
As we get closer to the 2025 NFL Draft, not a lot of things have changed for the Steelers. They are still not set at QB, with Aaron Rodgers thoroughly enjoying the media attention he’s getting by wandering around, deep in thought on a beach. One day he’s going to retire, the next day he’s playing catch with DK Metcalf. As usual, there also weren’t any huge splashes in free agency. So here we are, with less and less free agents signing by the day, waiting on a 42 year-old quarterback to decide if he wants to play in the ‘Burgh.
Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan met with the media over the weekend. Fans got the now routine responses of “we’re fine moving forward with Mason” and “we’re not focused on 2026; we’re building the best team to try and win a championship now.” Of course, there were some Tomlinisms sprinkled in about how he really likes the trajectory of some of these prospects he’s been seeing, etc. Honestly- do they really believe they have the core in place to compete for a Super Bowl this coming season? That’s with or without Aaron Rodgers.
What seems clear is that the Steelers are not in full rebuild mode but are aware they need to solve the QB problem long term. This is not the draft to do it, and it seems they are content to infuse talent to the core of the team. The focus of the past few years has been offensive line. They have now seemed to turn their attention to the defensive trenches, and one defensive lineman that may be in consideration at the 21st pick is Walter Nolen.
Strengths:
Walter Nolen has great body control and balance, and great bend for his size. He’s explosive off of the snap and has a good rip move. Nolen has very active hands. He seems to possess good instincts and the ability to locate and get to the ball when the ball carrier is misdirected. Nolen also has a good bull rush and due to his explosiveness can get a jump through gaps and split double teams.
Weaknesses:
Nolen seems a bit raw in his technique. His hands- while active- seem to be erratic. When his initial move does not work, Nolen does not utilize a counter move. Nolen also tends to play a little too high and will allow blockers to get underneath him and stand him up. A lot of his sacks seem to be more coverage related or due to the QB not getting the ball out quickly. There are also apparently character concerns with Nolen. I could not find specifics, but he did play at three different high schools and two colleges. From what I could find, it has more to do with having a me-first mentality and lacking coachability than anything criminally concerning.
How he fits:
Due to his size, Walter Nolan would most likely project to a 3-4 defensive end for the Steelers. This means he would be in line to eventually replace Cam Heyward. Nolen has the ability and the size to go in the top 15 picks in the draft. If I’m being honest, his tendency to take plays off combined with potential character concerns are the last thing the Steelers need. Nolen would need to do very well in interviews in order to prove to the Steelers brass that he isn’t going to be a problem. Even then I don’t know that I would take the gamble with such a deep draft class.
Player Comp:
Walter Nolen reminds me of Ziggy Hood coming out of college. Hood played with tenacity and had very active hands and a good burst off the snap. Hood was somewhat raw and needed some refinement in his technique. He also had good- not great athleticism. They both were deemed worthy of being first round picks. Walter Nolen has the ability to achieve much greater success than Hood did, but that will all depend on him.
Conclusion:
The Steelers are clearly trying to infuse talent where they can in order to set the team up for the future. The fact that the Steelers have kind of lost their way from their storied past makes these draft selections so much more important. They must consider character, locker room fit, and leadership potential when building this roster. With Cam Heyward coming to the end of his career, the next generation of leaders need to be ready to step up. The next two drafts will play a huge part in what type of team the Steelers will be for the next decade.
