Cardinals GM, coach break down 2025 1st round pick of Walter Nolen
Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort break down the Cardinals’ 2025 first-round pick, Walter Nolen.
The biggest decision the Arizona Cardinals face this week is not a roster cut. Instead, it centers on the status of Walter Nolen, the defensive tackle whom they drafted 16th overall this spring to be a game-wrecking force up front.
Nolen was placed on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list ahead of training camp with a calf injury he sustained at the team facility in mid-July. He has not yet returned to practice.
The question, then, is whether he will remain on the PUP list ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, when the Cardinals must finalize their 53-man roster. In a press conference to open the week, Jonathan Gannon said the Cardinals have “not quite” reached a decision on Nolen’s status.
“Health is always first with all of our guys,” Gannon said. “We’ve got a couple guys nicked up. So we’ll just see kinda how it all falls together.”
Nolen did appear on the sidelines during a practice last week, going through resistance training. It was the first time he had worked in that setting since the injury.
Still, it’s a complex decision for the Cardinals.
If Nolen begins the year on the PUP list, he cannot be activated until after Week 4, meaning he also cannot practice in that window. His first day to return to practice would be Oct. 1. Even if he returned on that day, he likely would not debut until Week 6 or 7.
So even if the Cardinals expect Nolen to miss a few games, they might opt to include him on the 53-man roster to maximize his practice time — valuable reps for a rookie who missed all of training camp.
The flip side, of course, is that the Cardinals would be using a roster spot on a player who is unlikely to be ready for Week 1.
Cardinals willing to prioritize player development with roster cuts
In his press conference ahead of roster cuts, Gannon was asked how the Cardinals balance player development against players who are ready to play an immediate role — specifically in regards to their cornerbacks room.
The subtext was clear: Elijah Jones, a 2024 third-round pick, remains mired on the third-string defense. But given his draft capital, the Cardinals will have to weigh his future ceiling against the ability of some veterans to contribute immediately.
Although Gannon said the Cardinals weigh the “full body of work,” his answer seemed to suggest that they value player development in these decisions.
“Player development never goes away,” Gannon said. “And from my standpoint, too, it’s hard during the season because you start getting into gameplanning and schematics and schedules and all this stuff. And you’ve really gotta make sure that you keep your finger on that guys are developing. You’ve gotta keep getting better as the season goes.”
How Cardinals weigh roster roles
One intriguing decision for the Cardinals this week centers on their running backs room, where they likely have three players competing for two spots.
Michael Carter has impressed whenever he gets an opportunity, but Emari Demercado fills a unique role as a pass catcher, while DeeJay Dallas brings his value as a return man.
“You’ve gotta fit the pieces of the puzzle together,” Gannon said.
That seems to suggest the Cardinals may value players whose skill sets fill a void on the roster — potentially good news for Demercado and Dallas.
“Not just with the running back room, but there’s multiple rooms like that, with different guys,” Gannon said. “What can they do on gameday for you? What do they do on the 53 for you, as far as what positions are they playing? Who do they pair with? Who do they fit with? Can they play multiple spots?”