Robert Nkemdiche: Atlanta Falcons draft profile

Robert Nkemdiche grew up in the Atlanta suburbs and starred collegiately while at Ole Miss. Should Atlanta grab the defensive lineman should he fall to 17?

Robert Nkemdiche grew up in Gwinnett County and won a state championship with the Grayson Rams in 2011. He was the No. 1 high school prospect in the 2013 recruiting class and while he grew up less than an hour from the University of Georgia, the 5-star defensive lineman opted to sign with the Ole Miss Rebels, as his older brother Denzel Nkemdiche played in Oxford.

Many viewed Nkemdiche as a consensus No. 1 overall pick at the start of the year for the 2016 NFL Draft as a true junior, but some off the field issues led to him being suspended for the Rebels’ New Year’s Six Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Sugar Bowl. This suspension ultimately ended Robert Nkemdiche’s collegiate career with Ole Miss.

While the standout defensive lineman obviously has elite level talent, his off the field issues may cause him to slip out of the top 10 in the 2016 NFL Draft, possibly into the mid-teens. Would his hometown team in the Atlanta Falcons use their No. 17 overall pick on Robert Nkemdiche?

More from NFL Draft

Atlanta needs to improve between the hash marks at all three levels on their defense (defensive tackle, inside linebacker, and safety). The Falcons may have some great pieces out on the edge at all three levels, but it’s difficult to pass up on an elite in-state talent of Robert Nkemdiche’s caliber should he fall all the way to No. 17 because of off the field issues.

He’s one of maybe three players Atlanta could even consider moving up slightly from 17 to select. I wouldn’t recommend it since the Atlanta Falcons only have five draft selections in the 2016 NFL Draft. Though Atlanta did use a second round pick on Ra’Shede Hageman in 2014 and traded up to the top of the fifth round in 2015 to select Grady Jarrett, Robert Nkemdiche could play both defensive end or defensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons. He’s that gifted on an athlete.

Realistically, Nkemdiche projects as either a 3-4 defensive end or a 4-3 defensive tackle. Since the Atlanta Falcons use a 4-3 Under base, which is basically a hybrid of these two schemes, he could play several roles on the defensive line for the Atlanta Falcons.

According to CBSSports.com, Robert Nkemdiche compares favorably to No. 6 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft in New York Jets defensive lineman Leonard Williams. Nkemdiche “can push the pocket and offers the versatility to make an impact vs. the run and penetrate the pocket to make plays in the backfield.”

At 6’3″, 296 pounds, I’d love to see as talented of a physical specimen as Robert Nkemdiche on the Atlanta Falcons defensive line. While Atlanta technically needs more of a defensive end than a defensive tackle, head coach Dan Quinn needs to bolster his pass rush in year two and will certainly look to acquire the most gifted front seven player arguably in the draft in Robert Nkemdiche.

Being that Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff went with another local kid in former Clemson Tigers star pass rusher and Adairsville, Georgia native Vic Beasley No. 8 overall in 2015, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Falcons’ front office to get a pure talent like Nkemdiche at No. 17.

Next: Reggie Ragland: Atlanta Falcons draft profile

Even with the off field incident in Atlanta before Ole Miss’ bowl game, it in my opinion is more than worth the risk to take Robert Nkemdiche at No. 17 should he plummet that far. He would have gone in the top five without question had he not missed the Sugar Bowl to suspension. Picking in the middle of the first round is about extracting as much talent at that draft position than for position or scheme fit. If it happened, I see taking Nkemdiche 17th as a franchise-altering move for the Atlanta Falcons defense.

Home/NFL Draft