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Early and late-round options for Arizona Cardinals for D-line

Early and late-round options for Arizona Cardinals for D-line

USA Today30-03-2025

Early and late-round options for Arizona Cardinals for D-line PFF believes the Cardinals' biggest need in the draft is still the defensive line and gives options early and late in the draft.
Despite bolstering their defensive line in the offseason with the addition of Dalvin Tomlinson and the return of L.J. Collier, combined with the return from injuries of Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols, one could say the Arizona Cardinals' biggest need is still up front on defense.
They will probably still address the defensive line in the draft, as the defensive line class is believed to be both good and deep.
PFF believes the Cardinals' greatest need is still the defensive interior and gave both an early-round and a late-round option for the draft.
Early round option: Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen
Nolen is 6-foot-4 and 296 pounds. He has athleticism but is not a freak. He has pass-rushing upside as well. He had 6.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss last season.
Is he better than Michigan's Kenneth Grant or Oregon's Derrick Harmon? He isn't as immediately impactful as a run defender as Grant but is a more accomplished pass rusher.
And while the production is there, some have questioned his character, so maybe that would take him of the Cardinals' board.
Late-round option: Ole Miss DT J.J. Pegues
Pegues is an inch shorter than his teammate Nolen but is 309 pounds and had as many tackles for loss as Nolen. He had 3.5 sacks. The later-round option might be a little more ideal because with the defensive line rotation the Cardinals already have, it won't feel disappointing to have a later-round pick playing in a rotation.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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