The San Francisco 49ers will likely pay close attention to the offensive and defensive linemen at next week's NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Many expect the team to reinforce the trenches with the No. 11 overall pick, as both position groups could use an upgrade.
In his latest mock draft, CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli projects general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan to bolster their defensive front by selecting Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen, a popular choice in recent mock drafts.
"Walter Nolen doesn't get nearly as much credit for how good he was throughout his college career, and should continue to be in the NFL," Fornelli explained. "Part of that is because he does a lot of the dirty work that doesn't show up in stats. He's a large, disruptive force on the interior that would fit in well with the San Francisco defense."
Nolen impressed during Senior Bowl practices last month in Mobile, Alabama, where Lynch was in attendance to get a firsthand look at the defensive lineman.
49ers Webzone's Wayne P. Brown noted that Nolen "dominated in the pass rush all week long."
Over his final two college seasons—one at Texas A&M and one at Ole Miss—Nolen recorded 10.5 sacks. In 2024, he posted 48 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and three passes defensed.
His 91.6 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus ranked second nationally among defensive linemen, trailing only Michigan's Mason Graham. That makes him an ideal candidate to strengthen an area where the 49ers have struggled.
NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah recently suggested that the 49ers could trade down and still land Nolen, whom he views as a "great scheme fit" for San Francisco's defense.
"[Defensive line coach] Kris Kocurek, they want to really get off the ball and penetrate and go, and he is really, really twitched up," Jeremiah said. "So, Walter Nolan, to me, would be someone, maybe if you slid down a little bit just to get more value, that would be a defensive tackle that I think would be a fun fit for that group."
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