Arizona Cardinals: Robert Nkemdiche called impact player

The Arizona Cardinals may have gotten another steal with the 29th pick of the 2016 NFL Draft

Listening to the Arizona Cardinals top brass after they selected defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche out of Ole Miss, you’d think the Cardinals knew what they were doing all along.  There was never anyone else. I’ll believe that.

Both general manager Steve Keim and head coach Bruce Arians had great things to say about Nkemdiche in a post-pick press conference from team headquarters in Tempe.  Arians called Nkemdiche an “impact” player.

I have to believe that as well.  Nkemdiche seemed well spoken and well aware of making good on his wrongs from the past.  He knows what his responsibilities are now.

You have to believe once other teams saw Nkemdiche was still standing when it came time for the Cardinals to be on the clock.  Trouble is, the Cardinals appear to have already made up their minds before they fielded calls.

Some have called this pick a risk.  Arians said himself in the press conference that every pick in the draft is a risk.  He is 100 percent correct.

For a player that was considered an easy top-five pick back in September at the beginning of the 2015 college football season, this is a steal.  He will only be a risk if he can’t control the off the field stuff.  The Cardinals had Tyrann Mathieu meet with Nkemdiche.  Smart move.  Mathieu knows what it takes to transition from a difficult life off the field in college to a consummate pro in the NFL.