Walter Nolen Just Who The Bucs Need
April 24th, 2025
Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen.
Joe remembers this like it was yesterday.
Back in 2020, Vita Vea went down against the Bears with an ankle injury that looked, at the time, like he was done for the season. Thankfully, the initial diagnosis was too pessimistic.
Vea came back for the NFC title game at Green Bay. Paired with Ndamukong Suh inside, there was no way three Packers offensive linemen were going to handle those two, especially with Vea being fresh.
So the Packers had to dedicate more blockers to the interior. That allowed Jason Pierre-Paul and Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett to get a lot of one-on-ones. Both edge rushers, Shaq in particular, went wild that day.
Vea’s return was so important to the Bucs defense, Joe doesn’t think the Bucs win that game without him.
And of course, that ferocious edge rush continued in the Super Bowl as the Bucs clobbered the Chiefs for their second franchise Super Bowl win.
Yes, JoeBucsFan.com draft guru Sean Sullivan has issued his choice for the Bucs at No. 19 tonight. And that is Mississippi defensive tackle Walter Nolen.
Nolen has been on Joe’s radar, too. And, with visions of how Vea and Suh raising hell in the middle, allowing edge rushers to do their thing is why Joe wants Nolen, but Joe has no issue if the Bucs address other positions in the first round.
Here is how Dane Brugler of The Athletic sums up Nolen in his draft guide “The Beast.” Brugler has Nolen as his No. 4 defensive tackle, right behind another of Joe’s favorites, Kenneth Grant of Michigan.
SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Ole Miss, Nolen played three-technique tackle in defensive coordinator Pete Golding’s 4-2-5 base scheme, occasionally lining up over or outside the tackle. A consensus top-five recruit out of high school, he played two mediocre seasons at Texas A&M before transferring to Oxford, where he had his best season in 2024, joining Patrick Willis as the only consensus All-Americans from the front seven in school history.
With his length and surge off the ball, Nolen creates immediate force and can be a play-wrecker with how quickly he penetrates gaps (the type of leverage that creates holding calls). He doesn’t rely on just quickness to win, but there are inefficiencies in his attack, especially when he is late to read the play. Overall, Nolen has areas of his game that require maturing, but he flashes big-time disruption in his initial burst and fast, physical hands to regularly affect the backfield action. He will be attractive for NFL teams looking for an active gap-shooter with high-end upside.
And here is Emory Hunt of CBS, the Czar of the Playbook, and his breakdown of Nolen in his “2025 Football Gameplan Draft Guide.”
Unlike Brugler, Hunt is very down on Nolen. He doesn’t like his hands and doesn’t believe he has a quick burst. As a result, Hunt has Nolen as his No. 16 defensive tackle.
– A pocket collapser because of his relentlessness. Will find his way into some sacks because he doesn’t stop getting upfield.
– When he is able to shoot his hands, he’s got some
underrated functional strength to get the lineman off the spot and get into the backfield.
– Has a knack for leaning in on the offensive lineman, being able to draw a double team.
Joe has read many people refer to Nolen as “violent.” Greg Cosell of NFL Films referred to Nolen as “country strong.” What a perfect guy to have in the middle to free up Calijah Kancey or spring free Haason Reddick and YaYa Diaby.
Imagine having Nolen and Vea in the middle. Teams will need four guys to tangle with that duo. May God have mercy on the quarterback.
.@OleMissFB DT Walter Nolen brings all the tools necessary to be an impact player on the D-Line 😤 @walternolen4
📺: 2025 #NFLDraft – April 24-26 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/7730uoX6i8— NFL (@NFL) April 15, 2025
April 24th, 2025 at 10:33 am
LB, Edge and CB are desperate need positions
DT is a luxury pick and that player would have little impact as long as Vea and Kancey can stay healthy
April 24th, 2025 at 10:35 am
Not very likely at 19 but if Ez/Haad/Starks are each gone, I’m in on the best pass rushing DT in this draft in Nolan at 19.
April 24th, 2025 at 10:39 am
Word on the street is he is flying on the draft boards doubt he will be there. If he is run to the podium!
April 24th, 2025 at 10:40 am
TRUE! If there. But Ninerzz at 11, and dirdy birdzz at 15 and Cincy at 17 might just snatch him up first.
April 24th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Who needs an edge when the pocket gets pushed back 4 feet.
April 24th, 2025 at 10:52 am
Change your name “Smarter than Joe”…
If everyone stays ” healthy”, there are no desperate needs. That means Dennis plays all season and starts with Walker as a back up… or even rotates with him a bit. That means our cornerbacks and safeties stay healthy, the primary part of our problem last year.
But, a healthy Vita plays slightly more than half the time as it is. And the Eagles had an amazing rotation of tackles, which we don’t have. Hall is a decent back up but if we had another stud tackle that could rotate with both Vea & Kancey… fresh pressure every down.
I can’t argue on the edge part of this because that is the other position we could really use. Too many unknowns… like is Reddick going to be back to his old form, is Diaby going to finally get to the QB on a lot of his close misses and will Braswell make a jump? I surely hope “yes” to all three but you never know. Would be a happy to get an edge rusher at 19 as well. But getting Nolen would put a smile on my face.
April 24th, 2025 at 10:56 am
Game wrecker !! I know he won’t be there 🙁
April 24th, 2025 at 10:59 am
Nope…not at 19 but if he falls down the draft board in the second, he would be a good pickup.
April 24th, 2025 at 11:05 am
He looks like an upgrade to Hall.
Hall is not the answer. I’m sorry. When I look at our 11 starters plus our nickle, I can honestly say that Hall is our softest starter.
I want a more violent player at DE.
I miss the days of Gholston just destroying people.
I want a massive DE/DT to replace Hall.
And I want a massive NT/DT to rotate with Vea.
Imagine our first two picks add 700 pounds to our defensive line?
Just imagine that?
In fhe 4th quarter, our interior line will be fresh and opposing offensive lineman will be beat up!
The NFL is a boxing match.
I want to add two heavyweights to our line.
I’m talking 650-700 pounds of power.
I’m serious.
April 24th, 2025 at 11:09 am
When you listen to the corny “Hey Hey Tampa Bay” theme song backwards, it sounds like they’re saying “push in the quarterback’s stool.”
Jason knows. I’m having a beverage to celebrate. No more maroonity. Almost.
April 24th, 2025 at 11:20 am
First three picks hopefully are 2 guys on Defense and a WR.
April 24th, 2025 at 11:22 am
It’s more than just having a talented starting rotation, if you can rotate in and not miss a beat in talent and aggressiveness you got some clutch stuff.
Lions and Eagles in recent runs.
April 24th, 2025 at 11:26 am
People are forgetting about Daniel Jackson, WR, Minnesota. PJ says he’s the best WR he’s ever coached.
April 24th, 2025 at 11:26 am
*DJ will be late round pick or UDFA.
April 24th, 2025 at 11:29 am
DT is not a luxury selection, Iam sure n the DR camp, build the trenches with another beastly D lineman. Look at what the eagles dis last year!!!
April 24th, 2025 at 11:56 am
Do some of you watch college football? Nolan was solid DT in college. He played against great OL for years in the SEC. He’s similar to KC. Neither of our DTs stay healthy. I doubt VV will be here in 2 years. You draft for years to come.
We still have holes to fill. Edge, cb, wr. Nolan is a safe and productive pick. I like Scourton and Sawyer. Both value picks late round 1 for Scourton and 2 for Sawyer. Even JTT has some upside in round 2.
April 24th, 2025 at 12:00 pm
There is nothing “luxury” about having a stable of effective Big Uglies.
A team cannot have too many.
They make the pretty boys look better.
April 24th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Lacks burst , agree w hunt his hands are dead , you see the athleticism in the way he finishes for his size ……… If someone can get his hand placement in punch upgraded, he would be a monster………late 2 nd rounder in my view , maybe third
April 24th, 2025 at 12:37 pm
I would take Walter Nolan ahead of any Edge player except Abdul Carter.
Inside pressure is the best pressure!
April 24th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Teacherman nailed it … ‘I want a massive DT/DE to replace Hall’.
Nolan’s too light (6’4″ & 296 lbs); want beef. Here’s what Walter Football says about him …
‘Some team sources said they gave Nolen a backup grade because he has a lot of bad tape. However, Nolen is a gifted athlete with a special skill set. That physical talent could cause him to go higher, but Nolen needs a lot of development. Some sources think he could go in the first round because of his skill set, and others say they have him much lower because of character concerns and the bad tape.’
Thanks, but pass. We’ve already got the quick explosive DT in Kancey. Need more beef to push the pile all over creation and open holes that a Mack truck could drive through. Start at 330 lbs & go up from there.
April 24th, 2025 at 12:59 pm
If we select a defensive tackle like Nolan, I expect that he will play starter snaps even if he is not listed as a starter. Think about it. A guy that will take at least as many snaps as Vita Vea. That would be a win for the Bucs even if he is not a starter.
Vea has taken a high of 63% of snaps.
Kancey has taken a high of 51% of snaps.
So two defensive tackle spots should be covering 200 percent of snaps (100 percent for first tackle and 100 percent for 2nd tackle).
200 minus 63 minus another 51 = 86% of defensive tackle snaps are available.
So, for those that say that there is not a defensive tackle starter spot open, I say bull.
April 24th, 2025 at 1:07 pm
Smarter Than Joe … ‘DT is a luxury pick and that player would have little impact as long as Vea and Kancey can stay healthy’.
Little impact? Have you watched what happens to our DLine when Vea’s not in there? And especially when he’s not in there on critical downs like 4th down conversions?
Vita’s missed 21 games in his 7 years … 3 games per year average. Admittedly 11 of those came in 2020 and we survived (even won the Super Bowl). Why did we survive & get to the playoffs? Because we had Ndamukong Suh … a true beast … to anchor our DLine. Without him, I contend there’s be no Super Bowl for us that year.
So if Vea ends up in a similar situation, who’s our Suh this year? Greg Gaines? Similar size as Suh (both 313 lbs) but the comparison stops there. Kancey? Quick & explosive, but how would he do taking on a double team? Hall? Getting better, but no Suh. Bucs NEED another beast.
April 24th, 2025 at 1:17 pm
I love it
April 24th, 2025 at 3:21 pm
I wonder about Nolan’s character. I’d prefer Derrick Harmon as he’s a very good pass rusher with great quickness at 6’5″ 313lb.
NFL Draft Buzz: “After studying every snap of Harmon’s 2024 campaign, the tape reveals a defensive tackle with legitimate NFL starter potential. His transformation from Michigan State to Oregon wasn’t just about better coaching or a scheme change – the natural power and explosiveness were always present, but now they’re weaponized. The way he consistently won one-on-one matchups against Ohio State’s interior line in the playoff highlighted both his ceiling and his remaining development needs. When his technique matches his physical tools, he can take over a series.
“What makes Harmon’s emergence even more impressive is how he dominated despite facing constant double teams in the run game. The Detroit native proved equally adept at penetrating gaps as a pass rusher and anchoring against combo blocks, showcasing the scheme versatility pro teams covet. His performance against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinal – consistently winning one-on-one matchups against future NFL linemen – solidified his status as a top-50 prospect. “
April 24th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
IDL, CB, and WR are the positions we would be hit the most without further depth. This Pick, or a WR would turn the position into league best.
Lookin more and more like he may not still be there at 19 tho
April 24th, 2025 at 4:37 pm
If we don’t go NT (notice I didn’t say dt, we don’t need that) with our first 2 picks, I say we go Jamaree Caldwell in the 4th. Big – 332, athletic – regularly splits double teams NOT just a space eater. Great hustle. Look up real bucs talks breakdown of him. He’d be a GREAT backup to vita.
April 24th, 2025 at 4:52 pm
Let’s grab an ILB or CB/Nickel in the first round! After that BAP!!