The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft.
A position that the Green Bay Packers could target with the 23rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft is defensive tackle.
Kenny Clark is coming off the worst season of his career and is entering his 10th year in the league. His play in 2024 could just be a blip on the radar, or it could be a sign that a decline is coming. Devonte Wyatt may or may not have his fifth-year option picked up, and even if it's picked up, will the Packers go beyond that and give him a second contract? Karl Brooks has shown he can be a valuable member of the rotation.
As the Packers look to bolster the interior of their defensive line, a potential target in the first round is Walter Nolen. The Ole Miss defensive tackle checks in at No. 27 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
It sounds like Walter Nolen had a good first day at the Senior Bowl.
— Brennen Rupp (@Brennen_Rupp) January 28, 2025
The Ole Miss DT was one of 10 players on the American roster I listed for Packers fans to monitor this week.
https://t.co/bbaua8bYAMpic.twitter.com/shj4olRU07
A transfer from Texas A&M, Nolen enjoyed a career year during his lone season as a Rebel. He recorded career highs in tackles (48), tackles for loss (14) and sacks (6.5). During his two seasons at College Station, Nolen recorded 12 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Ole Miss Defensive Tackle Walter Nolen Last Season:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 7, 2025
🔵 88.9 PFF Grade (3rd)
🔵 35 QB Pressures (6th)
🔵 13 TFL’s/No Gain (2nd)
🔵 91.6 Run Defense Grade (2nd)@OleMissFBpic.twitter.com/QOLf4bnKmg
"Nolen’s greatest strength is his speed and power combo off the line of scrimmage," Devin Jackson, an NFL Draft reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, said. "For a sub 300 pound defensive linemen, he’s got some real power behind his hands and is incredibly slippery knifing through opposing offensive lines."
Nolen is a twitchy interior defender. He wins with his quick get-off and violent hands. He plays with great power and converts speed to power. While he may not always get home, he routinely impacts the integrity of the pocket. The Texas A&M transfer has a nice bag of tricks in his pass rush repertoire and would bolster any team's interior pass rush with his blend of upfield quickness and strength. To go along with his 6.5 sacks, Nolen recorded 35 pressures this past season.
"The world is Nolen’s oyster as a pass rusher," Jackson said. "He’s got cross chop ability, can rush from multiple alignments along a defensive line, and his speed to power conversion is lethal. His variety as a pass rusher can keep interior offensive linemen guessing."
Nolen is an explosive ...