The Arizona Cardinals have high hopes for second-year defensive tackle Walter Nolen. His rookie season was limited to only six games because of injury, but he was impactful in those six games.
That limited play was enough to land him on NFL.com's "All-Under-25 Team" by Nick Shook.
He was paired with Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Byron Murphy II.
This selection requires a bit of projection, but I'm confident it will pan out because what I saw from Nolen in just six games tells me all I need to know. Nolen was a disruptive force and an instant, significant upgrade for Arizona's defensive line as soon as he returned from injury, recording a sack and four tackles in his very first game. Nolen only appeared in six contests before his health-hampered
season ended due to injury, robbing us of a true evaluation of his debut campaign, but if he can stay on the field in 2026, this selection will make much more sense to the average fan. Trust me: He's a stud.
This seems to be the consensus. Multiple coaches on the Cardinals' staff have gushed about Nolen's ability. It feels like the only thing that could get in the way of a dominant career is injuries. Sadly, he left practice on Friday with what appeared to be a left knee injury. We will see if it is something that keeps him out days or weeks.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Walter Nolen named to All-Under-25 team
