More on Walter Nolen's Character Concerns

[Whatever]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25182798-walter-nolen-drawing-reportedly-drawing-maturity-concerns-multiple-nfl-scouts

Apparently, the concerns with Nolen are more than just the transfers. Apparently, Lane Kiffin was under the impression that Nolen was going to come back for the 2nd half against Oklahoma after getting dinged in the 1st half, but he stayed on the sidelines. In fairness, that can be a miscommunication or a situation where Nolen may have thought he had been hurt worse than he was and didn't want to risk losing millions in the draft.

The other issue is very concerning, though, with Nolen apparently getting frustrated and quitting mid-practice on a number of occasions. That colors his refusal to return against OU quite a bit.

[Bilbo Saggins]

Pass. Harmon produced more pressures anyway. He and other DTs in the class have a highlight reel where they'll look like a man among boys. Nolen does not. 

[NATI BENGALS]

I was really high on him at first. Before we re-signed Hill and signed Slaton. Then I watched more of him and others that will be available. And now with quitter/drama queen/headcase red flags? Easy pass in the first. Now the 2nd..? Probably still would pass and get a better character/talent combo than him.

[*Synric*]

Yea. It's from this Jeremy Fowler article.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2025/insider/story/_/id/44587384/2025-nfl-draft-most-polarizing-players-shedeur-sanders-jalen-milroe-mike-green (insider paywall)

League intel:

-Why Jalen Milroe reminds many of Justin Fields

-Walter Nolen 'highest ceiling in entire draft' but has concerns

-Will Campbell 'can be All-Pro...Don't overthink it'

-Riley Leonard: More love in NFL circles than in media

-Tet McMillan: Shades of Michael Thomas https://t.co/zO29dE7q65

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 9, 2025

Concerns aside Nolen is likely still high on their board.

[Okeana]

im not a fan of him as a player or as a person. he's very young, but I would rather draft a guy like grey zabel at 17, someone who has zero character concerns and plays at a very high level. then take a chance on a guy like CJ West who has zero character concerns and the athletic profile to excel

[sandwedge]

(04-10-2025, 07:56 PM)Okeana Wrote: im not a fan of him as a player or as a person.  he's very young, but I would rather draft a guy like grey zabel at 17, someone who has zero character concerns and plays at a very high level.  then take a chance on a guy like CJ West who has zero character concerns and the athletic profile to excel

Not a bad idea about CJ West. I watched about 3 IU games this year and he was unstoppable. The Myshitcan game, he destroyed their OL.

[SunsetBengal]

(04-10-2025, 07:25 PM)Synric Wrote: Yea. It's from this Jeremy Fowler article.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2025/insider/story/_/id/44587384/2025-nfl-draft-most-polarizing-players-shedeur-sanders-jalen-milroe-mike-green (insider paywall)

League intel:

-Why Jalen Milroe reminds many of Justin Fields

-Walter Nolen 'highest ceiling in entire draft' but has concerns

-Will Campbell 'can be All-Pro...Don't overthink it'

-Riley Leonard: More love in NFL circles than in media

-Tet McMillan: Shades of Michael Thomas https://t.co/zO29dE7q65

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 9, 2025

Concerns aside Nolen is likely still high on their board.

That link just leads to a teaser of the article, along with an invitation to buy a $12/mo subscription...

[*bfine32*]

Lane Kiffen was on Sirius the other night talking about his draftable players. Perhaps nothing but when talking about others he mentioned "teammate. leader. locker room guy.ect..." When asked about Nolen he said "People don't realize how strong he is".

I'm not a fan, he'll probably fall, Philly will take him, and he'll be All-Pro.

[Goalpost]

If he interviews fine, I'm ok with the pick.

[Stewy]

(04-10-2025, 07:56 PM)Okeana Wrote: im not a fan of him as a player ......

Then you're being disingenuous or haven't watched his tape.

i don't blame anyone for not wanting him over character concerns, but you're being purposefully blind to not like his tape.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(04-11-2025, 05:13 AM)Goalpost Wrote: If he interviews fine, I'm ok with the pick.

Same.

(04-11-2025, 11:24 AM)Stewy Wrote: Then you're being disingenuous or haven't watched his tape.

i don't blame anyone for not wanting him over character concerns, but you're being purposefully blind to not like his tape.

Yeah, I get not liking the quitting/drama queen stuff that Whatever speaks about but as far as the player he was great on the field, has tons
of upside and is really young. If the team likes him and we draft him I am all on board. But this made me pause more than the transfers for 
sure about drafting him. Back more on the Emmanwori/Starks train now.

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

I am not a fan of taking a guy with flags at #17. Nor a guy who isn't gonna start right away.

I like Emmanwori, Starks, J. Campbell, Zabel, & Jackson better. Not to mention catching a falling blue chipper (Warren, Walker, Jeanty, W. Campbell, Membou, Loveland).

If we want to reach for pass rush, I'd take Harmon or Green first. Though not Stewart, M. Williams, or Pearce.

My board looks like:

1. Carter, DE, Penn State
2. Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
3. Graham, DT, Michigan
4. W. Campbell, OT/OG, LSU
5. Membou, OT/OG, Missouri
6. Warren, TE, Penn State
7. Walker, LB/Edge, Georgia
8. Johnson, CB, Michigan
9. Jeanty, RB, Boise State
10. Green, DE/OLB, Marshall
11. Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
12. Starks, S, Georgia
13. Zabel  OL, North Dakota State
14. J. Campbell, LB, Alabama
15. Jackson, OG, Ohio State
16. Harmon, DT, Oregon
17. Loveland, TE, Michigan

Nolen or Grant would be fine. Or Barron. Not a fan of most of the OTs we want to play G. Not at #17 anyway 

[*Synric*]

(04-11-2025, 11:24 AM)Stewy Wrote: Then you're being disingenuous or haven't watched his tape.

i don't blame anyone for not wanting him over character concerns, but you're being purposefully blind to not like his tape.

Walter Nolen is a top 10 talent. He has some reps on tape that are dominant. He is likely going to slide a little (20s likely) but it is not going to be a surprise when he's collecting a 35m apy contract in 4 years.

[Whatever]

(Yesterday, 11:15 AM)Synric Wrote: Walter Nolen is a top 10 talent. He has some reps on tape that are dominant. He is likely going to slide a little (20s likely) but it is not going to be a surprise when he's collecting a 35m apy contract in 4 years.

The potential is there.  However, it also wouldn't be a surprise if he busts, either.  

[Hammerstripes]

(04-11-2025, 12:15 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: I am not a fan of taking a guy with flags at #17. Nor a guy who isn't gonna start right away.

I like Emmanwori, Starks, J. Campbell, Zabel, & Jackson better. Not to mention catching a falling blue chipper (Warren, Walker, Jeanty, W. Campbell, Membou, Loveland).

If we want to reach for pass rush, I'd take Harmon or Green first. Though not Stewart, M. Williams, or Pearce.

My board looks like:

1. Carter, DE, Penn State
2. Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
3. Graham, DT, Michigan
4. W. Campbell, OT/OG, LSU
5. Membou, OT/OG, Missouri
6. Warren, TE, Penn State
7. Walker, LB/Edge, Georgia
8. Johnson, CB, Michigan
9. Jeanty, RB, Boise State
10. Green, DE/OLB, Marshall
11. Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
12. Starks, S, Georgia
13. Zabel  OL, North Dakota State
14. J. Campbell, LB, Alabama
15. Jackson, OG, Ohio State
16. Harmon, DT, Oregon
17. Loveland, TE, Michigan

Nolen or Grant would be fine. Or Barron. Not a fan of most of the OTs we want to play G. Not at #17 anyway 

I mean, very rarely do we get guys that "start right away" unless the team is in complete shambles.  IF we drafted an O-lineman, yes, I'd want to get a guy that starts right away.  Defense is completely different for me since guys rotate in and out depending on down and distance.  The only thing I care about is getting a guy that can rush the passer and help out on passing downs - regardless of how much he plays.

[*Synric*]

(Yesterday, 11:45 AM)Whatever Wrote: The potential is there.  However, it also wouldn't be a surprise if he busts, either.  

I don't see much bust potential on the field even if he doesn't hit his ceiling he will at least be Larry Ogunjobi. He's getting dubbed as the strongest DT in the class and it's not far off. 

[BFritz21]

Draft him and let Burrow, Hill, Chase, and other vets that they need to show leadership and support him.

Not baby him or be assholes to him, but just let him know that they have his back but he’s playing with the big boys now, so he has to grow up.

[Whatever]

(Yesterday, 12:07 PM)Synric Wrote: I don't see much bust potential on the field even if he doesn't hit his ceiling he will at least be Larry Ogunjobi. He's getting dubbed as the strongest DT in the class and it's not far off. 

I see him more as a potential bust in a Jermaine Burton type of way.  Millions of dollars rarely make lazy, immature kids better in that regard.  Usually, it's the opposite.

[*ochocincos*]

(Yesterday, 03:05 PM)Whatever Wrote: I see him more as a potential bust in a Jermaine Burton type of way.  Millions of dollars rarely make lazy, immature kids better in that regard.  Usually, it's the opposite.

It does make you wonder what did motivate certain "lazy" players in college though, doesn't it?
If it's not money, what made them go out there and perform well in college?
If it was money, surely they would know they can make way more money in their 2nd contract in the NFL compared to their rookie contract as long as they actually go out there and perform.

I don't really care what attitude you have or how you perform in practice, as long as you can go ball out on game day.
But typically in order to even get a shot on game day, you gotta show (or pretend) you care in practice and outside of games.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(Yesterday, 03:34 PM)ochocincos Wrote: It does make you wonder what did motivate certain "lazy" players in college though, doesn't it?
If it's not money, what made them go out there and perform well in college?
If it was money, surely they would know they can make way more money in their 2nd contract in the NFL compared to their rookie contract as long as they actually go out there and perform.

I don't really care what attitude you have or how you perform in practice, as long as you can go ball out on game day.
But typically in order to even get a shot on game day, you gotta show (or pretend) you care in practice and outside of games.

Yeah, I mean Suh was an asshole and he was dirty, but he was a damn good DT in the NFL.