When it comes to draft projections for the Philadelphia Eagles, it’s always safest to start in the trenches.
General manager Howie Roseman generally builds his roster from the line of scrimmage out. And after addressing the secondary in 2024 — while handing out some big-money contracts on offense — the defensive line is a good place to start for Philadelphia in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
With that in mind, Kyle Crabbs of the 33rd Team predicts the Eagles will select Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen, a 305-pound force with 14 sacks in three seasons. Here’s what Crabbs wrote about the potential fit:
Philadelphia is loaded full of big contracts and the team is set to see DL Milton Williams hit free agency this spring. If they are unable to secure a new deal, drafting Walter Nolen to take his reps would give the Eagles another disruptive interior presence on the front to help keep this team loaded with disruptive talent. Nolen is one of the most explosive interior players in the class and Howie loves to add his pass rushers in the draft.
Nolen enjoyed a breakout junior season for Ole Miss, finally living up to his five-star potential coming out of high school in Tennessee. He piled up 36 pressures — more than double his first two seasons combined — and registered six sacks, 25 hurries and 32 run stuffs, per PFF’s premium stats. With Carter commanding regular double teams, Philadelphia would be a prime destination for Nolen, or another defensive tackle of his ilk.
The key here, as Crabbs mentioned, is the pending situation regarding Milton Williams, whose rookie contract is set to expire. He’ll almost certainly fetch a deal in the neighborhood of Alim McNeill’s four-year, $97 million from the Detroit Lions on the open market, so how the Eagles handle his potential extension will be among the team’s top storylines this offseason. Roseman has already stated his desire to re-sign All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun.
The new league year technically begins on March 10, when teams can legally begin contacting outside free agents. If the Eagles don’t have an extension in place for Williams by that date, they could be looking to replace him with a player like Nolen in April’s draft.
