Will This be a Lost Rookie Season for Walter Nolen?

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

We obviously don't yet know what Nolen's outlook beyond Week 4 will be. That Arizona put him on the PUP rather than IR looks like at least a slight positive.

But even if the rookie's ready to return to action within that post-Week 4 window, what version of Nolen can we realistically expect to see?

Can a 21-year-old rookie who lost his entire first summer to injury become a starter over the second half of the season? That's tough to bet on. And the Cardinals have fortified their D-line enough this offseason that they shouldn't need to push him. That included signing DT Dalvin Tomlinson for $29 million over two years back in March and then adding veteran Calais Campbell at the beginning of April.

This marks the second straight year of the Cardinals watching their first-round D-lineman enter his rookie year with a limiting calf injury. Darius Robinson sustained his injury in the final preseason game last year, didn't take the field until the final six weeks, cracked 50% playing time in three games, and never reached 60% in a game.

This year, Robinson should be ready to help the D-line through Nolen's absence. But last year's treatment can also show us Arizona's willingness to be patient even with a top draft pick.

Don't expect Nolen to become a redraft factor, either for the Cardinals' team D or in IDP leagues. If he proves that wrong, all the better.

Dynasty Impact

Nolen remains a nice upside play for DT-specific slots over the long term. We shouldn't assume this calf issue will linger beyond 2025. It might make him more available to stash, though.

Arizona drafted Nolen 16th overall after he closed out his three-year college career with 6.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in his lone season at Ole Miss. Nolen shows quickness well above average for the position and should be a penetrating rusher and run defender when healthy.

That means upside in pressure-based and run-stuffing categories.