There were some unexpected drops down the draft board on Thursday night, but defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche landing in Arizona with the 29th pick wasn’t one of them.
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The Cardinals got a steal here with Nkemdiche, the risky defensive tackle from Ole Miss.
The 6-foot-3, 294-pounder entered the draft with questions about his production at Ole Miss, as well as off the field issues, specifically a fall from an Atlanta hotel room that included an arrest for marijuana possession.
Nkemdiche is also the third Gwinnett County prospect on the Cardinals’ roster, joining Peachtree Ridge grads Kevin Minter and Drew Butler.
However, his slide didn’t keep him from being a first-round pick and with the No. 29 overall pick in the first round, the Arizona Cardinals chose to add Nkemdiche to their talented defense.
“Plays with good lateral quickness and can win the race across the face of blockers”, the profile continues. While his numbers were not at the same level as some of the other elite pass-rushers in the draft (19 tackles for loss, seven sacks over 34 starts), his impact on the field was always impressive. Nkemdiche will join defensive end Chandler Jones, acquired from the New England Patriots, and defensive end Calais Campbell for what is suddenly a formidable defensive front.
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Nkemdiche’s biggest saving grace is his freakish athletic ability. However, while he is very disruptive on tape, he hasn’t been productive and can show better instincts to finish.
