First 2025 Mock Draft

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(01-07-2025, 03:51 PM)CJD Wrote: Yea, Nolen is great too. It's just a different position. NT vs 3T. Whether they prioritize a guy like Nolen or a guy like Grant will depend entirely on how they view the two DTs they drafted this past off season.

Jackson has the size of a NT, but do they think he can hold up in the run game?

Do they think Jenkins can turn into a dominant pass rusher from the DT position (if they didn't, I don't know why they would draft him, but we had that discussion last off season haha).

I think our defense missed Reader's presence immensely in the run game, as safeties spent a lot more time in the box this year (or, at least, they appeared to), so I'm leaning towards Grant.

The good news is that, while Grant wasn't a huge sack artist, he was disruptive in the passing game. He has 22 hurries this season, with the 3 sacks, 1 QB hit and 5 PD. Last season he had 15 hurries, 5 sacks, 3 QB hits and 3 PD. 

Compared to Nolen's last two seasons per PFF:
Grant:
950 snaps
8 sacks (I believe PFF doesn't penalize players for sharing a sack with teammates)
4 QB hits
37 hurries
8 PD

Nolen:
952 snaps
13 sacks
4 QB hits
33 hurries
3 PD

I think Nolen has higher potential as a pass rusher, but he isn't blowing Grant out of the water in terms of production.

You forgot TFLs and run stops which Nolen has about double Grant.

Also if you are talking about NFL projection Nolen's 2024 season as productive this year as both of Grant's season's at NT combined. It depends on if you believe there was growth in Nolen's game from 2023 to 2024.


I'm good with either Kenneth Grant or Walter Nolen to begin a DL build around.


Edit: Walter Nolen is going to be at the Senior Bowl!