2025 NFL draft prospect compared to Rams star Kobie Turner

[ASFN Admin]

The Los Angeles Rams have been great at finding diamonds in the rough in recent draft classes.

Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, Kobie Turner and Byron Young were all drafted in the third round or later and all four have been key contributors for the Rams since they entered the league or became full-time starters.

Naturally, these leads to emerging prospects who may be drafted later being compared to some of the Rams' late-round finds. One of those is Ole Miss interior defensive lineman Walter Nolen, who Athlon Sports' Doug Farrar believes compares most closely to the Rams' Turner.

"It’s difficult to watch the 6-foot-3, 305-pound Nolen and not think of Turner with Nolen’s ability to explode past blockers and knife through double-teams with a highly impressive palette of pass-rushing skills," Farrar wrote. "Like the 6-foot-2, 297-pound Turner, Nolen is a real problem for enemy defenses everywhere from nose tackle to five-tech end — and like Turner, Nolen could be the epicenter of a professional defensive line sooner rather than later."

Nolen put together a solid 2024 season with the Rebels that included 6.5 sacks, three quarterback hits, 26 quarterback hurries and 26 solo tackles. Turner was less productive at Wake Forest in 2022 after he tallied just two sacks, 38 combined tackles and three forced fumbles. However, Turner became a monster in the NFL with 17 sacks over the past two seasons (eight in 2023 and nine in 2024) with 119 combined tackles over that span.

The Rams don't need defensive linemen anymore between Turner, Young, Braden Fiske and Poona Ford — so Nolen shouldn't be on their radar unless he falls far down the drown. But, for scouting purposes, it helps to know that a successful NFL player has the same mold as an upcoming draft prospect.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 2025 NFL draft prospect compared to Rams star

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