49ers add big pass rusher in ESPN NFL mock draft

The former top recruit recorded 6.5 sacks for the Rebels during the 2024 campaign.

The college football regular season is officially over and bowl season is here. With the regular season wrapped up, many of the top prospects from around the country are beginning to declare for the draft if their team was not selected for the first-ever 12-team playoff.

While it’s becoming clearer which players will be on the board for April’s 2025 NFL draft, mock drafts are beginning to stack up with predictions for the San Francisco 49ers‘ first-round selection. According to Yates, Nolen is a “disruptor.” Yates praised Nolen’s pass-rushing skills and strength on the interior of the defensive line.

In the latest mock draft from ESPN’s Field Yates, the 49ers addressed the defensive line in the first round. With the No. 15 overall selection, Yates penned Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen to the 49ers.

Via ESPN:

Nolen is a disruptor with excellent interior pass-rushing traits, tallying 6.5 sacks this season. He has very good strength, an explosive first step and powerful hands to disengage from blockers and chase down the quarterback.

Read Yates’s full mock draft here.

After transferring from Texas A&M to Ole Miss, the 6-foot-4, 290 lb defensive linemen recorded 26 total tackles with 6.5 sacks for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels in 2024.

Prior to entering the college level, Nolen was a top recruit, earning either the first or second spot for the class of 2022 in multiple high school recruiting outlets. Nolen played two seasons at Texas A&M for Jimbo Fisher, recording five sacks, a forced fumble and 66 tackles for the Aggies.

The 2025 NFL draft is slated to begin with round one on April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

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