DL Draft Visits: Stewart, Ezeiruaku, Pearce, Nolen
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart has visited several teams ahead of next week’s draft, in which he is expected to be selected in the first round.
Stewart started on the East Coast, visiting the Patriots last Thursday,per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, before traveling to Pittsburgh on Friday, per Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Stewart then visited the Bills on Saturday and the Bears on Monday (via Ryan Fowler of The Draft Network) ahead of his final pre-draft visit to San Francisco today (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero).
The flurry of visits make it clear that Stewart is likely to be a first-round pick and may even break into the top 10. His 6-foot-5, 267-pound frame offers elite athleticism, as evidenced by his superb testing numbers at the NFL Combine. However, he struggled to translate that into production in college with just 4.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss across his last three seasons in College Station.
Teams will have to weight Stewart’s untapped physical potential with his need to develop his pass-rush moves, play recognition, and overall technique that may limit his instant impact in the NFL.
- Boston College edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku has also met with a number of teams as he pushes for a first-round draft billing. He visited the Panthers last week, and on Monday, he went to the Commanders’ facility in Ashburn, Virginia, according to SB Nation’s Ken Johannesen. Ezeiruaku didn’t reach the same eye-popping testing numbers as Stewart, but he does bring a refined array of pass-rush moves that helped him rack up 16.5 sacks in 2024.
- Like Stewart, Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce is visiting the 49ers today, according to Rapoport. He already visited the Bengals, Cardinals, Colts, Cowboys, Falcons, and Saints, suggesting that a dip in his public draft stock may not reflect his value to NFL teams. Pearce led the SEC with 10.0 sacks in 2023, but took a slight step back in 2024, which moved his projected draft slot later in the first round.
- Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen added the Cardinals and the Packers to a list of visits that already included the Bengals, Cowboys, 49ers, and Panthers. He visited Arizona on April 7, according to Rapoport, and completed a trip to Green Bay earlier this week, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Nolen is believed to have a wide range of evaluations across the league, so teams like the Bengals, Cardinals, and Packers may view him as a mid- to late-first round pick while the Cowboys, 49ers, and Panthers may be hoping he falls to their selections early in the second round.
Eagles Host S Malaki Starks; Team Interested In Walter Nolen, James Pearce?
The Eagles’ draft plans will depend in large part on how the first-round board shakes out before they are on the clock. A trio of names have emerged regarding Day 1 defenders the team thinks highly of, though. 
Philadelphia has hosted safety Malaki Starks on a top-30 visit, Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP reports. The Georgia product has long been touted as one of the two first-round prospects at the position. Shorr-Parks adds the Eagles have “a ton of interest” in Starks, which comes as no surprise given general manager Howie Roseman‘s history of drafting Georgia defenders.
The junior operated as full-time starter during each of his three seasons with the Bulldogs. Starks earned first-team All-SEC and All-American honors in 2023, a year in which he totaled three interceptions and seven pass deflections. This past campaign included a step back in terms of statistical output, which could hurt his draft stock. Nevertheless, selecting Starks could require moving up the order given the Eagles’ No. 32 draft slot.
The Super Bowl champions traded away C.J. Gardner-Johnson this offseason, creating a need in the secondary. Adding Starks would give the Eagles an immediate replacement candidate on the back end, but it remains to be see if he will wind up in their range. The Dolphins – set to draft 13th overall – were recently reported to be high on him, and several teams in position to select shortly after Miami are no doubt in a similar situation.
If the Roseman and the Eagles elect to trade up, other defenders could be the target. ESPN’s Jordan Reid names defensive tackle Walter Nolen and edge rusher James Pearce as prospects to watch in that respect. Nolen is among the many D-lineman in contention to hear their names called on Day 1, although his draft range is believed to be wider than many other first-round candidates. Adding the junior (who transferred from Texas A&M to Ole Miss in 2024) would help compensate for the loss of Milton Williams in free agency.
Philadelphia likewise has a spot to fill along the edge since Josh Sweat departed on the open market. Pearce, who earned first-team All-SEC acclaim for each of the past two years, is among the top speed rushers in the 2025 class. The Tennessee product has taken a number of visits recently, although – like in Nolen’s case – none of his known meetings have included time with the Eagles. Regardless of if that changes in the near future, they will be among the prospects to monitor closely regarding Philadelphia’s Day 1 approach.
Draft Notes: Carter, Colts, Cowboys, Bengals, Falcons, Vikings, Bills, Burden, Broncos, Bears, Campbell
Although Abdul Carter‘s foot injury created some early-offseason concern, the Penn State prospect has not run into any real hurdles toward becoming a surefire top-four pick. The edge defender did not see any emerge during a Combine medical recheck, either, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes Carter’s foot is improving and no surgery will be needed. The stress reaction Carter suffered kept him out of drills at the Nittany Lions’ pro day, but the potential Browns target has still built up enough capital pre-draft to turn down visit requests for teams holding picks outside the top four. He has met with the Browns and Titans and will stop his visits after the Giants (No. 3) and Patriots (No. 4).
Here is the latest from the draft:
- One of the top non-Carter edge players in this prospect crop, James Pearce Jr. is continuing his visit schedule. The Tennessee product conducted recent visits with the Bengals, Colts, Cowboys and Falcons, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Pearce has already met with the Cardinals, and a report of Saints interest emerged. The Colts came up as a team interested in D-line augmentation, while the Falcons are prioritizing defense in this draft after their Michael Penix Jr. pick last year. The Bengals are still in an uncertain place with Trey Hendrickson, and Sam Hubbard retired.
- Skill players have come up regarding the Broncos‘ first-round draft slot (No. 20), as the team added Talanoa Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw on defense — after re-signing D.J. Jones. But strengthening a strength should not be ruled out here, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Reid. Viewing this running back class as deep enough the RB-seeking team can wait until after Round 1 to make that play, Reid mentions safety Nick Emmanwori as a wild-card option to watch. The No. 15 prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, Emmanwori is a South Carolina product who could shift into the box in sub packages. The Broncos have Hufanga, Brandon Jones and P.J. Locke at safety; they are thinner at linebacker, with both Greenlaw and 31-year-old Alex Singleton coming off injuries.
- Denver hosted Mizzou receiver Luther Burden, and it is possible the SEC pass catcher will be available on Day 2. Burden is likely to fall out of the first round, per ESPN.com’s Matt Miller, but the longtime draft expert views him as a first-round talent. A former top recruit, Burden fared much better as a sophomore in 2023 (1,212 yards, nine touchdown receptions) than 2024 (676/6), contributing to his potential second-round status. While Jeremiah labels Burden a slot player, Miller classifies the 5-foot-11 talent as someone who could make an impact outside.
- Another player who may end up sliding a bit, Jihaad Campbell has seen a post-Combine shoulder surgery change his draft trajectory. Teams are gathering intel on the Alabama linebacker, per ESPN.com’s Field Yates, who indicates it would not surprise to see a top-20 talent in this draft fall toward the end of Round 1 or into the second round.
- Mentioned as a team high on Ashton Jeanty, the Bears have more pressing needs than running back. Specifically, the team views defensive tackle as a bigger need than defensive end, Miller adds. This does not surprise, considering the team’s Dayo Odeyingbo deal. Despite the ex-Colt’s ability to rush from inside and the ensuing Grady Jarrett pickup, the Bears appear to have a clear interest in upgrading here. Miller ESPN colleague Courtney Cronin ponders a potential long-term play at left tackle, as Braxton Jones is in a contract year, in the first round as well.
- Still in place as a top cornerback prospect despite missing last season with an ACL tear, Shavon Revel continues to meet with teams interested in his rebound effort. The Bills, Colts and Vikings met with the East Carolina CB this week, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Buffalo is in need of a corner to replace Rasul Douglas, who remains in free agency, while Indianapolis may still be interested in adding despite giving Charvarius Ward $18MM per year. Minnesota added Isaiah Rodgers to go with Byron Murphy but could certainly benefit from a higher-level investment.
Cardinals To Meet With James Pearce, Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams
The Cardinals let Chandler Jones walk in free agency during the 2022 offseason, and they lost all-time great J.J. Watt and eventual All-Pro Zach Allen in 2023. Arizona did not come especially close to picking up the pieces during the 2023 and ’24 seasons, but the team’s offseason has acknowledged the need for a better pass rush.
After re-signing trade pickup Baron Browning, the Cardinals reunited Jonathan Gannon with Josh Sweat. PFR’s No. 2-ranked free agent joined the team on a four-year, $76.4MM deal. It does not appear the Cards are content with Browning, Zaven Collins and BJ Ojulari as Sweat’s complementary pieces, as some high-profile “30” visits are on tap.
Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams and James Pearce Jr. are set to meet with the team, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. Dennis Gardeck‘s six-sack season in 2023 represents Arizona’s highwater mark post-Watt, with converted ILB Collins leading the way with just five in 2024.
The Cards extended Collins last year, giving the former Steve Keim-era first-round pick a two-year, $14MM deal. Collins is signed through 2026, but nothing is guaranteed beyond this season. L.J. Collier is also back, but the ex-Seahawks first-round EDGE is on a one-year, $3MM accord that comes with $1.5MM guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. A $1MM incentive package is included in Collier’s second Cards contract.
With Sweat headlining this group, the Cardinals have the makings of a far more formidable pass rush — one that includes 2024 first-round D-lineman Darius Robinson — compared to recent years, but their “30” visits indeed point to a strong interest in making another high-level investment to strengthen its pressure cadre. It would almost definitely take a first-round pick to land Walker, Williams or Pearce. The Cardinals hold the No. 16 overall pick.
Walker sits fifth on Daniel Jeremiah’s latest NFL.com big board, making it rather unlikely he falls to No. 16. While last year’s draft seeing no defender go in the top 14 brought an early imbalance, an abundance of quarterback selections made that possible. No QB run is expected beyond Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders this year, which will likely see this draft’s top non-Abdul Carter defenders go earlier.
A backup during Georgia’s 2022 national championship-winning season, Walker began to play a bigger role in the latter slate. Over the past two seasons, Walker combined for 11.5 sacks. Last season, he posted 11 tackles for loss en route to All-American acclaim. Walker has experience on and off the ball, which is rather familiar territory for a Cardinals team that drafted both Collins and Haason Reddick.
Respectively sitting 22nd and 26th on Jeremiah’s board, Williams and Pearce may well be available at No. 16. A Walker Georgia teammate, Williams played more than his slightly higher-regarded teammate as a freshman and closed his college career with 14 sacks in three seasons. Williams finished with nine TFLs and two forced fumbles in 2024. He earned second-team All-SEC honors last year but played through a sprained ankle during his final Bulldogs slate. Pearce was more productive than either, combining for 17.5 sacks from 2023-24; this included an SEC-leading 10 in ’23. The Saints (No. 9 overall) have also come up as a potential Pearce suitor.
The Panthers, who boast a bigger EDGE need compared to the Cardinals, also met with Walker, ESPN.com’s David Newton notes. Carolina holds the No. 8 overall pick. The NFC South team also has seen Williams connections form. Although the Panthers made an addition here, Patrick Jones does not quite move the needle like Sweat does. The team is still searching for a Brian Burns successor, whereas the Cards spent to hope Sweat can deliver Chandler Jones-like production.
Saints Host Will Campbell; Team Showing Interest In James Pearce, Shemar Turner
The Saints’ draft preparation is ongoing, and prospects on both sides of the ball are on the team’s radar. Offensive lineman Will Campbell visited today, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports. 
A Louisiana native and LSU product, Campbell’s visit will be classified as a local one and thus not count toward the Saints’ allotment of 30 for other prospects. Seen as the top offensive linemen in this year’s class for much of the pre-draft process, Campbell has faced plenty of questions about his arm length. His measurement at LSU’s Pro Day offered a slightly more encouraging figure compared to the Combine (33 inches), but the possibility of a move to guard will no doubt persist.
The Saints used a first-round pick on Trevor Penning in 2022, then added Taliese Fuaga with their top selection last spring. That pairing operated as a tackle tandem last season, and it would come as no surprise if that continued into the future. Pro Bowler Ryan Ramczyk restructured his contract in January in a move which signaled he will not be back due to his major knee injury. New Orleans could use depth at tackle, but Campbell’s path to immediate playing time would likely be on the interior if the Fuaga-Penning partnership were to remain intact.
The Patriots – who own the No. 4 pick in April’s draft – were recently reported to be high on Campbell (among other O-linemen). Left tackle looms as a major need for New England despite the team’s busy offseason, and it would come as little surprise if addressing it during Day 1 of the draft became the plan. That would leave the New Orleans (set to select ninth overall) in need of pivoting to other options in the first round.
The Saints have met with a number of Tennessee prospects recently, and Underhill reports they also conducted a James Pearce workout. Pearce is one of several first-round prospects for edge rushers in the 2025 class, with his speed representing a major source of interest for NFL teams. A first-team All-SEC producer for each of the past two seasons, he totaled 17.5 sacks over that span; as a result, Pearce is firmly on the Day 1 radar (although a top-10 selection could be seen by some as a slight reach).
The Saints also used Saturday to host defensive tackle Shemar Turner on a visit, per Underhill. The Texas A&M product’s stock is not as high as that of teammate Shemar Stewart, but drafting him could help a New Orleans team which ranked 31st against the run last season. While Stewart is not seen as a first-round prospect, several of those who are will no doubt continue to receive attention from New Orleans over the coming days and weeks.