TEMPE -- The Cardinals鈥� first-round selection in the NFL draft showcased his rookie sensibilities during his first availability with Arizona media Friday.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what I鈥檓 supposed to be doing up here right now,鈥� Mississippi defensive tackle Walter Nolen said from the podium.
The statement received laughs from coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort, who were standing off to the side, but both know very well Nolen, selected 16th overall, is ready to get to work.
Nolen didn鈥檛 showcase rookie tendencies when he learned the news Thursday night. During a life-changing phone call, Nolen made sure to tell Gannon to 鈥渟end me the playbook.鈥�
It has been a hectic 24 hours for the rookie, but it was also a weight lifted off his shoulders.
鈥淩eady to get to work,鈥� Nolen said. 鈥淐elebrate for two days, but it鈥檚 time to get to work.鈥�
In his junior season at Ole Miss, Nolen recorded 48 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries. Those stats earned him accolades including first team All-American by the Associated Press, USA 365bet体育在线世界杯, ESPN and The Athletic.
His twitch and explosive power made him an intriguing prospect for many teams, and it was hard to see him falling out of the first round. He can line up anywhere on the line, bringing more versatility to the Cardinals鈥� pass rush, and more importantly, he affects the run and pass game, allowing him to be on the field at all times.
None of those attributes surprised the Cardinals brass.
鈥�(He鈥檚 a) guy we did a lot of work on,鈥� Ossenfort said Thursday night. 鈥淪couts through the fall, Senior Bowl and through the combine. (We) brought Walter in for (one of the 30 eligible draft prospects visits). He impressed us the whole way. Tape spoke for himself: violent, disruptive, high motor, tenacious, three-down player. Hard to find those guys that can affect the pocket from the interior.鈥�
The Cardinals entered the offseason with needs on the defensive side of the ball. They particularly wanted to solidify one level of the defense: the line. The Cardinals added Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell while re-signing L.J. Collier and Baron Browning. In last year鈥檚 first round, the team addressed the defensive line, selecting Darius Robinson.
With many bodies in the defensive line room, pressure is minimal for Nolen to come in immediately and be a game-wrecker. He can take time to learn from the heavy veteran presence.
鈥淚 just want to learn their process,鈥� Nolen said. 鈥淚 still get to be a little kid a little bit because I got all the OG鈥檚 in the room, so getting in there learning their process, how they do things and implementing it in my daily schedule.鈥�
One of the negatives surrounding Nolen during the pre-draft process were character concerns. His skill was worthy of a first-round pick, but some reports questioned his character, which Gannon quickly shot down following the selection.
鈥淗e鈥檚 got a huge heart,鈥� Gannon said. 鈥淚t was awesome in the pre-draft process getting to know him. I don鈥檛 know what narratives or anything like that are, but I make up my mind, and this guy is a Cardinal 1,000 percent.鈥�
When Nolen stepped up to the podium, he made sure to thank the people nearby: his family.
鈥淚 just want to shout out all these folks in the front row,鈥� Nolen said. 鈥淲ithout them, I probably wouldn鈥檛 even be here right now, so they get a round of applause real quick.鈥�