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Walter Nolen officially signs rookie contract with Arizona Cardinals

11by: Jake Thompson06/10/25JakeThompsonOn3
Syndication: Arizona Republic
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Walter Nolen III (97) during organized team practice at the Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe on June 3, 2025. Mandatory credit: © Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

There are still a handful of first round draft picks that have not put pen to paper on their rookie contracts but Walter Nolen is no longer part of that group.

The former Ole Miss defensive lineman officially signed his rookie deal with the Arizona Cardinals on Tuesday. This leaves five players who were drafted in the first round of April’s NFL Draft to not sign a contract, yet.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart signed his deal with the New York Giants on May 30.

For Nolen, who was the 16th overall pick, it is a lucrative contract that is reportedly for four years and worth $19.3 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal also included a $10.7 million signing bonus.

“We wanted to have a more disruptive defensive unit. We think we’ve added players that can help us do that,” Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort said in April. “And again, when we find players that can affect the middle of the pocket, it puts a lot of stress on the offense. And so Walter is another guy that we think can do that, can help us do that.”

Nolen was the second Ole Miss defensive lineman taken by the Cardinals in the last nine years. Robert Nkemdiche was drafted by Arizona as the 29th overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.

“I just want to learn their process. I still get to be a kid a little bit,” Nolen said of joining the Cardinals defensive lineman room. “Just get in there, learn their process, learn how they do things and just implement it into my process.”

Minicamps are getting underway for all 32 NFL teams before preseason camp starts next month. Ole Miss fans can get a close look at Nolen when the Cardinals open up the 2025 season at New Orleans on September 7 at Noon CT.

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