The Arizona Cardinals have not gotten a lot of impact from two of their first round draft picks under general manager Steve Keim. Jonathan Cooper got hurt and never really got over it. D.J. Humphries was inactive his entire rookie season. The team does not believe that will be the case with new first round draft pick Robert Nkemdiche.
Head coach Bruce Arians even went as far as to say "there's no doubt he'll be an impact player (this season)."
Why is that?
"From a talent perspective, he has tremendous skills, height, weight and speed, rare movement and tremendous flexibility for a big man," said Keim. "Not only is he a guy that we think can be a tremendous player, but he has great schematic flexibility. He has the ability to bounce across the defensive line and, in fact, in nickel situations can bounce outside and rush the passer."
Arians called him "a nightmare for a guard or a center (to block), and he could work a tackle off the edge."
Arizona loves defensive linemen who can move around.
He can be compared to one of the great Cardinals draft picks -- Darnell Dockett.
"(Nkemdiche is) a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger and a little bit faster (than Dockett)," Arians said. "But a lot like Darnell. Explosive. Like I said, a nightmare for a guard."
He enters a rotation including older players in Calais Campbell, Frostee Rucker and Red Bryant, a young Rodney Gunter and younger, but more rotational guys in Ed Stinson and Josh Mauro. They will get Corey Peters back from his second torn Achilles.
The defensive line is different than other positions. They rotate in and out throughout the game, unlike most other positions. He will be able to play a little or a lot, depending on how much he learns.
But the team is thinking big with him.
"With his ability to create penetration and quickness, and he's violent, in this scheme and this coaching staff, withour locker room and the structure we have here, I have high expectations for him," said Keim.
That's exactly what we need from their number one pick.