2016 NFL Draft: Robert Nkemdiche Set For Huge Fall

In terms of pure physical talent, there may not be a prospect in the 2016 NFL draft more gifted than Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche.  There were times on tape where he looks as unblockable as any to come out of college in a long time.  A true big body that was strong enough to stop the run but fast enough to rush the passer and play insider or out.

Watching stuff like that, one would imagine this kid is destined to become a top 10 pick in the draft.  However, that’s the thing about drafts.  It takes more than physical ability to go that high.  A player must also be smart, instinctive and prove he won’t be much trouble off the field  Not only has Nkemdiche made teams nervous on that front with prior actions, according to draft expert Matt Miller, he’s made it even worse since then.

"“Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche needed to nail his team interviews at the combine to quiet doubts about his off-field past. One team official I spoke to this week, who was in the room for Nkemdiche’s interview, called it “the worst I’ve ever seen.”"

That’s a pretty devastating indictment considering some of the notable knuckleheads that have come and gone through the scouting combine in previous years.  It’s as big an indicator as there is to determining what fate awaits him in April.  Remember, there was another uniquely gifted defensive prospect just last year who had top 10 talent but fell all the way to the end of the 2nd round due to poor interviews.

That was Randy Gregory.  Now he is faced with a four-game suspension for violating league rules on substance abuse and the Dallas Cowboys are left with that sinking feeling that they went a bridge too far in their pursuit of talent.  That failure may only serve to hurt Robert Nkemdiche further, provided things really did go as bad as feared.