The Denver Broncos will have the last pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft and could use that pick on one of the best pass rushers in the draft. The Arizona Cardinals are not far behind, as they will have the 28th pick towards the end of the first round. Most of the teams that are selecting at the end of the first round are playoff teams who may just need one extra playmaker on either side of the ball to become Super Bowl Champions, and Robert Nkemdiche's skill set could certainly help with that.
What may make Nkemdiche not a smart selection within the first 10 picks are the glaring character issues that have continued to follow him through college. Several teams have also wondered if Nkemdiche is consistent enough on the field to be drafted so high.
There have been times during his college years where he seems to take a couple of plays off and is not consistently rushing the passer or stopping the run. There was also an incident in college that left Nkemdiche hospitalized after he fell out of a hotel window.
The pass rusher was apparently smoking marijuana (that might have been laced), and when the police found marijuana in his room, they charged him with possession. He stated at the time of the accident that he was drunk, not high, and the marijuana that the police found in his room was not his.
The Broncos have been the team most affected by the NFL free agent period, as they saw four starters leave their franchise. The Broncos free agency was doomed from the start, as they barely had enough money to retain any of their players, let alone offer any attractive deals to big name playmakers.
Denver lost defensive end Malik Jackson to the Jacksonville Jaguars, starting quarterback Brock Osweiler to the Houston Texans, inside linebacker Danny Trevathan to the Chicago Bears, and offensive guard Evan Mathis, who went to the Cardinals. The Cardinals have had a relatively quiet free agency period, and their biggest loss came when right tackle Bobby Massie signed with the Chicago Bears. Selecting Nkemdiche would be a risky proposition for any team, but if he falls to the Cardinals or Broncos, they cannot afford to pass on him.
