Cardinals defensive lineman Walter Nolen smiles as he answers questions during the introductory news conference inside the Arizona Cardinals training facility on April 25, 2025, in Tempe. Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ole Miss Football's Walter Nolen Officially Signs Rookie Deal With Arizona Cardinals

Originally posted on Ole Miss Rebels on SI | By Zack Nagy | Last updated Jun 10, 2025 2:00 PM ET

Ole Miss star defensive lineman Walter Nolen has officially signed his rookie contract with the Arizona Cardinals, the organization revealed on Tuesday.

Nolen, the Cardinals' first round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, was one of six first rounders remaining that had not signed to this point.

The Ole Miss stud was the 16th overall pick, where he has now inked 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.

Cardinals signed No. 16 overall pick Walter Nolen to a four-year, $19.3 million deal that includes a $10.7 million signing bonus. pic.twitter.com/YPRueR6dnh
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 10, 2025

“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.”

For Nolen, he is ready to take his game to the next level and handle business with the Cardinals.

“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.”

Nolen will continue working through a pivotal offseason in Arizona ahead of what many expect to be an impressive rookie campaign.

This article first appeared on Ole Miss Rebels on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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