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.
"There's no doubt he'll be an impact player." - #AZCardinals coach Bruce Arians on Robert Nkemdiche
— Adam Green (@theAdamGreen) April 29, 2016
"I think the culture of our locker room speaks for itself" Bruce Arians on Cardinals players helping Nkemdiche pic.twitter.com/OdmxBXKJIS
— Fox Sports 910 (@foxsports910) April 29, 2016
I freakin' DIG @AZCardinals Nkemdiche pick. This shiz is shizzella! Nice job Keim n @BruceArians. BAM!
— 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 🎙 (@kennysargent) April 29, 2016
This is such a Steve Keim/Bruce Arians pick. Totally going for it.. Taking big cuts
— trey wingo (@wingoz) April 29, 2016
Talked to AZ GM Steve Keim this morning. He said they had a great visit with Nkemdiche. Thought he was misunderstood.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 29, 2016
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.
Nkemdiche: This is the place I'm supposed to be. Noted how good a relationship he already has with Steve Keim.
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) April 29, 2016
GM Steve Keim says they "absolutely" had calls for the 29th pick, but Nkemdiche was "too good to pass up" pic.twitter.com/9MmvBrVJ41
— Fox Sports 910 (@foxsports910) April 29, 2016
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.