Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: DT Walter Nolen

Here is our scouting report on Walter Nolen from Ole Miss

We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at defensive tackle Walter Nolen from Ole Miss.

Walter Nolen

DT
Ole Miss Rebels
Junior
5-star recruit
6’3”
305 lbs

Photo by Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

History

Walter Nolen III was born on the 14th October 2003. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, he played high school football at several schools, including Olive Branch High School in Mississippi, Saint Benedict at Auburndale in Memphis, and Powell High School in Tennessee, where he had a standout senior year. At Powell, he recorded 93 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 27 quarterback hurries, and 17 sacks, leading his team to a Class 5A state championship. He was rated as the number two overall football recruit in the 2022 class and was a five-star prospect.

Nolen started his college career at Texas A&M, where he played for two seasons, appearing in 22 games and starting 14. During his time there, he tallied 66 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and five sacks. In December 2023, he transferred to Ole Miss, where he became a key player in his junior year of 2024.

At Ole Miss, he started all 13 games, leading the team with 14 tackles for loss and ranking third with seven sacks. His performance earned him consensus All-American honors and a spot as a finalist for the Outland Trophy, recognizing him as one of the nation’s top interior linemen. He achieved all this and only turned 21 last October.

2024 Statistics

551 Defensive Snaps
48 Total Tackles
14 Tackles For Loss
30 Total Pressures
7 Sacks
3 Pass Breakups
2 Fumble Recoveries
3 Penalties

NFL Combine/Pro Day

TBC

Awards

All-America (2024)
First-Team All-SEC (2024)

Scorecard

Overall- 86.0
Speed- 84
Acceleration- 88
Agility- 78
Strength- 92
Pass Rush- 90
Run Defense- 82
Tackling- 90
Discipline- 95

THE GOOD

• Nolen is an elite athlete for his size and position.
• Has an impressive first-step quickness and burst off the line.
• His speed and agility allow him to shoot gaps and penetrate the backfield effectively, making him a disruptive presence against both the run and pass.
• He has heavy hands and a solid initial punch, enabling him to stun and drive back offensive linemen.
• His ability to handle double teams and maintain leverage is exceptional when he wins early engagements.
• Very versatile and has proven he can play multiple positions, such as a 3-technique or 4i-technique, and has shown the ability to play on the edge.
• He demonstrates a relentless motor, chasing plays from the backside and finishing with intensity on every play.

THE BAD

• Nolen can be inconsistent with his pad level, sometimes struggling to keep his pads down.
• Struggles to anchor or shed blocks.
• His pass-rushing moves need refinement, as he relies heavily on power and speed but lacks a diverse set of counters.
• While fine against the run, he can get washed out or struggle to disengage from blocks if he doesn’t win the initial engagement.
• He needs to improve gap discipline to become a more complete defender.
• Youth is his biggest weakness. As a young player, he’s still developing consistency and awareness. His tape shows flashes of brilliance but also moments of sloppiness, suggesting he’s not yet a polished prospect.

THE FIT

Standing at 6’3” and weighing over 300 lbs, Nolen has the ideal build for an NFL defensive tackle. It’s not hard to envision his 40-yard dash time to come in around 4.90- 4.98 seconds, showcasing his speed and athleticism for his size. His combine testing will be huge to determine his value.

Right now, before the combine, Nolen is viewed as a potential mid-to-late first-round pick, with some scouts ranking him as a top-10 talent, which is tough to project at this stage. He’s ideally suited as a one-gap penetrator in an aggressive defensive front, where his explosiveness and power can wreak havoc. With proper coaching, he has Pro Bowl potential and could develop into a dominant NFL interior lineman, drawing comparisons to players like Sheldon Richardson or even Aaron Donald due to his rare athleticism for his size.

Nolen is a high-ceiling/low-floor prospect right now with elite physical tools and improving production, but his development will depend on refining his technique and consistency. His issues come down to counter moves, which he shows to have little of, and not being able to anchor efficiently.

He could be a good fit for the Dallas Cowboys, especially given their defensive needs, but at pick 12 his selection maybe a tad too rich. Trading down in the first, however, and selecting him mid-round would be a massive win for the franchise in this draft.

Nolen’s versatility as a defensive tackle makes him a strong candidate to play as a 3-technique or 4i and utilize his explosive first step and ability to penetrate gaps, something this Cowboys interior defensive line needs at the moment. Nolen’s ability to generate tackles for loss and sacks would address their need for a dominant presence in the middle. His youth and potential also make him a long-term investment to build around alongside established players.

He’s has the size and strength to handle the physicality of the NFC East, where teams like the Eagles rely on strong offensive lines and running games. His relentless motor and competitive nature would fit well with the Cowboys’ high-energy defense. Off the field, his background as a highly-touted recruit and his success at both Texas A&M and Ole Miss suggest he’s adaptable and coachable, which is crucial for Dallas’s development-focused approach.

He would immediately contribute as a rotational player with starter potential, providing pressure on quarterbacks and helping against the run. Over time, with the right coaching, he could become a cornerstone of their defense. His presence would also allow linebackers like DeMarvion Overshown to make more plays by occupying blockers.

COMPARISON:

Sheldon Richardson, Minnesota Vikings

BTB GRADE:

27th

CONSENSUS RANKING:

22nd
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)