👋 GOOD MORNING
Happy Friday! We made it through another week! Plenty of Cardinals NFL Draft coverage below, however, I did want to throw one last reminder out there about Skatin’ For Leighton, which is happening this Sunday at Salt River Fields. It’s an incredible event for so many reasons, and I’d love for you to join me and my family out there!
You can skate, run, walk, or just chill out, but everything raised goes to an amazing cause. The event honors the memory of Leighton Accardo, who captured the hearts of hockey fans around The Valley with her courageous battle against cancer. I sure hope you can join us!
One last note: Remember, if this email was forwarded to you, you can sign up for the newsletter right here, and I’ll keep you in the loop with everything going on this summer! Don’t miss a beat!
Let’s run it back next week. On to the show!
What NFL Experts Are Saying About Walter Nolen
The debates and mock drafts are long gone. The first round is over.
And the Arizona Cardinals have their guy.
The Cardinals selected defensive tackle Walter Nolen out of Ole Miss with the 16th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, ending speculation over who they would select — or if they would make a trade — while solidifying their defensive front by adding a player that can have an immediate impact within the organization. The 6-foot-4, 296 pound tackle should prove to be formidable on the line right out of the gate.
He’s positioned for success, and for what it’s worth, I think it’s a home run pick. Safe? Maybe. But also one that can benefit the Cardinals in the short-and-long terms.
Bonus? The Eagles (who selected 31st yesterday) were eyeing him, which means Arizona has now swiped two defensive gems from Philly: Josh Sweat in free agency, and now Nolen.
But what are they saying nationally?
Pundit Reaction to Arizona’s selection of Walter Nolen:
Josh Weinfuss, ESPN: The Cardinals have been on a mission to rebuild their defensive front and Nolen is another piece of that puzzle. He’s big — 6-foot-4 and 296 pounds — and has a nose for the quarterback. His 6.5 sacks at Ole Miss last season led FBS among defensive tackles and while he had 12 tackles for loss, he also had 32 tackles within two yards of the line of scrimmage, a sign of his ability to get off blocks and make plays.
Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports: The Cardinals got a lot more disruptive with this pick. Walter Nolen has all the upside in the world to be an impact 3-technique at the next level and has a higher floor than Robert Nkemdiche, the last Ole Miss defensive tackle they selected in the first round. Nolen’s play is a bit streaky, but the big-play potential with Nolen is here in droves.
Rob Rang, Fox Sports: The most disruptive interior defensive lineman of the class, Nolen is an intriguing fit for the Cardinals, especially given the addition of edge rusher Josh Sweat in free agency. Nolen was terrific at Ole Miss in 2024, but wasn’t as impressive as expected at the Senior Bowl. As such, there is some undeniable boom-or-bust factor with Nolen.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: He is a good inside player who will team with Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson to give them upgrades inside on a line that needed it. Nolen has big-time ability, but he needs to be more consistent and dedicated to the craft.
Matt Verderame and Gilberto Manzano, Sports Illustrated: He has the strength, quickness and production to be a quality pro. He holds the point of attack and can get off blockers in time to stop the run. But Nolen’s hand usage and pass-rush repertoire aren’t where they need to be. He exposes his body to blockers too often and struggles finding a counter. He has trouble against double teams and can be moved out of rushing lanes. There are highs and lows on Nolen’s tape—he’s uber talented but has kinks to work out at the next level.
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: Arizona continues to beef up its defensive line with the Ole Miss product. The talented Nolen has the elite explosiveness and violent hands to create consistent penetration at the point of attack.
Musings From Around (and Sometimes Beyond) The Valley
Stayin’ Alive: The Roadrunners stayed alive in their first-round series of the AHL Playoffs, topping Abbotsford 4-1 to force a deciding Game 3 on Saturday. Ben McCartney had a monster game with two goals and an assist, while goalie Jaxson Stauber stopped 38 of the 39 shots he faced.
D-backs Stumble Late: The Diamondbacks blew a one-run lead in the ninth before ultimately falling 7-4 in 10 innings to the Rays last night, dropping the series after taking the first game on Tuesday. Arizona will wrap up its 6-game home stand with a three-game set against the Braves, beginning tonight at Chase Field.
Here’s To You, Mr. Robinson: Offering a huge congratulations to Arizona assistant basketball coach Steve Robinson, who announced his retirement following 42 years as a Division I coach. His illustrious career included stops at Kansas and North Carolina, and included 18 regular season conference titles, eight conference tournament championships, and he coached or recruited more than 60 players that have gone on to NBA careers
🧢 Tip of the Hat by Branded Bills
Yeah — we liked it.
