The Arizona Cardinals have revamped their offensive lineup. Notable changes include Kyler Murray’s move to Minnesota and Jeremiyah Love’s arrival in Arizona. Nathaniel Hackett is the new offensive coordinator under head coach Mike LaFleur, previously an OC with the Rams.
However, it’s on the defensive side that the Cardinals might see a standout in 2026 with Walter Nolen III. The team picked Nolen as the 16th overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft from Ole Miss. Nolen had a standout junior year, receiving consensus All-American and first-team All-SEC honors. His stats included 48 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three pass deflections, and two fumble recoveries over 13 games.
Standing at 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, Nolen entered his professional debut with significant expectations.
Before training, Nolen was placed on the physically unable to perform list due to a calf injury and did not play his first NFL game until Week 9 against the Cowboys. Despite the setback, he performed well with four tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. He also scored a defensive touchdown against the Jaguars later in the season. Unfortunately, a knee injury in Week 16 against Atlanta cut his season short. He concluded his rookie year with 11 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, and a fumble recovery over six games.
As fans look forward to 2026, Nolen’s knee injury was revealed to be a torn meniscus rather than an ACL tear, easing concerns. He’s been actively working out at the team facility, showing promising recovery as training camp starts. Arizona facilitated his playing time by moving on from veteran Calais Campbell, who had played 525 defensive snaps last year. Kaleb Proctor was also drafted for defensive depth, though he suffered a torn meniscus during OTAs. This situation gives Nolen and former first-rounder Darius Robinson more responsibility.
With Nick Rallis continuing as defensive coordinator, Nolen won’t face a new system. He enters Week 1 fully healthy and ready. If he maintains his rookie performance over a full season, Arizona could have a reliable defensive anchor.
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