MoveTheSticks has the Cowboys drafting DT Walter Nolan at No. 12

baltcowboy said:
I know Broaddus and Voch are not big fans but Nolan has the potential to be close to Jalen Carter out of all the defensive tackles in this draft. The mistake is to make him Osa’s replacement. You resign him and draft the kid.
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None of these DT’s even Graham are on the level with Carter, he should of been the first overall pick if not for those character concerns
 
Cowboyny said:
None of these DT’s even Graham are on the level with Carter, he should of been the first overall pick if not for those character concerns
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Agreed but I bet the Cowboys see Nolan as that type of player potentially. I believe the defensive coaches and scouts love Nolan but I don’t think the Joneses would take him in the Jeremiah draft.
 
I like Nolen, and if they think he's the best DT available at 12 I'd be happy to take him. DT is my #1 target to improve this defense and team.

And even though I do generally agree with BPA, I would never fail to draft a difference maker for your team, just because his "perceived value" isn't quite where some people say it should be. That's just a bad draft strategy IMHO. You draft the best players you can, at the positions your team needs the most help and you make your team better. Regardless if he's ranked or "projected" to go 20 picks later than that.

That's the entire point of the draft, to make your team better, more complete and more competitive.
You can't do that taking a higher "ranked" player, (for example, taking a TE who is a good player, maybe as good or better than your current TE, but when using him he doesn't make your team very much better than it already is) vs. taking a good player, at a position your team really needs to upgrade. Upgrading the weakest part of your team will always make your team better than adding a good player where he's not needed.

Now I say all that but add ***Within reason! You should pass on a generational talent, unless you get extremely well compensated to trade out. Nor do you don't take an average player over a great one just because of need either. It has to be reasonable.
 
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Daniel Jeremiah 2025 NFL mock draft 2.0: Steelers, Chargers, Vikings pick RBs in Round 1​


https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-2025-nfl-mock-draft-2-0

Has us taking Nolen at 12. Jeanty, Hampton, and Henderson all go in the 1st.

I can see it happening. I will be sick if we pass on Jeanty. Only thing that could change that if he runs a 4.8 40 or has a degenerative disease or something!!
 
Chocolate Lab said:
Too many mockers going this direction solely because they think Jerry is cheap now and won't pay Osa, not because Nolen is the best player available.
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They are mocking DT's to the Cowboys because that has been the weakest area of the team (even with Osa) for years and the coaches have come out and said they want to stop the run better. The Cowboys need to sign Osa and draft at least 2 DT's.
 
I'd have to see who else is on the board but there are several DL players I would take over Nolan.

But I also have a feeling we will see a run on DTs in the first round. I would not plan on taking someone else in the 2nd.
 
its the NT of this DL that has been weak. Why the middle of the D has been weak. Until we have a real one, it will remain weak.
 

Overview​

Nolen has NFL-starting size but won’t blow you away with his physical traits. However, he gains quick advantages with his explosiveness into contact and ability to beat up blockers when singled up. He has the athletic talent to play into gaps but needs to play with better hands to keep himself clean at the point of attack. He wins as a rusher with his athleticism and play strength, and doesn’t need to be schemed for. The pass rush still requires refinement, but he already flashes quick-win moves that foreshadow good pressure and sack production as a pro. Nolen’s blend of explosiveness and playmaking talent create high upside as a three-down interior lineman.

Strengths​

  • Impressive playmaking production as an interior defender.
  • Twitchy off the snap and into blockers with good pop.
  • Power to punch and shove defenders aside to take over the gap.
  • Can absorb double teams or play across blocker’s face and into backfield.
  • Outstanding body control to regain balance and make a play.
  • Ability to pressure the pocket creates three-down value.
  • Sets up his edge-to-edge rush challenges.
  • Able to bend and rip his way under redirect blocks.
  • Rush stays alive with active hands and secondary effort.

Weaknesses​

  • Below-average extension and control at the point.
  • Needs to play with consistent inside hands to stay clean.
  • Base width can narrow on him in both phases.
  • Looks to disengage from blocks too quickly at times.
  • Rush needs a more diversified first-phase approach.
  • Inconsistent to capture rush edge when it opens.

Sources Tell Us​


“Nobody questions how talented he is and how hard he plays. Super twitched up and really explosive.” -- NFC national scout
GRADE
 
I'll give Nolan a mulligan for his lack of production at Texas A&M. As an Aggie football fan, let me tell you that no program squanders talent quite like A&M.

Even then, I just can't warm up to him. His movement is freakish, and he got a bunch of production as a senior in the SEC, so that should be two huge green flags for NFL success. But he just doesn't seem to get off blocks very well. The low win rate in his grades looks accurate.

Nolan is an interesting compare/contrast versus Harmon, who's not the same caliber of athlete but lives around the ball. Between the two, I'm probably taking Harmon.
 
J-man said:
I like Nolen, and if they think he's the best DT available at 12 I'd be happy to take him. DT is my #1 target to improve this defense and team.

And even though I do generally agree with BPA, I would never fail to draft a difference maker for your team, just because his "perceived value" isn't quite where some people say it should be. That's just a bad draft strategy IMHO. You draft the best players you can, at the positions your team needs the most help and you make your team better. Regardless if he's ranked or "projected" to go 20 picks later than that.

That's the entire point of the draft, to make your team better, more complete and more competitive.
You can't do that taking a higher "ranked" player, (for example, taking a TE who is a good player, maybe as good or better than your current TE, but when using him he doesn't make your team very much better than it already is) vs. taking a good player, at a position your team really needs to upgrade. Upgrading the weakest part of your team will always make your team better than adding a good player where he's not needed.

Now I say all that but add ***Within reason! You should pass on a generational talent, unless you get extremely well compensated to trade out. Nor do you don't take an average player over a great one just because of need either. It has to be reasonable.
Click to expand...
**change that from "should..." to shouldn't pass on a generational talent,...
 
beware_d-ware said:
I'll give Nolan a mulligan for his lack of production at Texas A&M. As an Aggie football fan, let me tell you that no program squanders talent quite like A&M.
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So true, you have Nolen, Scourton, Stewart and Turner, my goodness they can recruit. Gig 'Em.
 
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