NFL draft profile: Ole Miss DT Robert Nkemdiche, a gifted mystery

Shutdown Corner is counting down the top 50 prospects in the 2016 NFL draft with a scouting report, quotes from NFL evaluators and a projection where they might be drafted.

33. Ole Miss DT Robert Nkemdiche
6-foot-3, 294 pounds

Key stat: Seven sacks in 35 career games, but posted a 35-inch vertical at the NFL scouting combine, which tied for the best mark among defensive tackles.

[Follow Yahoo Sports draft expert Eric Edholm on Facebook and Twitter]

The skinny: Incredibly gifted big man who has one of the most NFL-ready frames in the entire draft. Nkemdiche has played multiple techniques along the line, moves with ease, can win with power and showed an explosive first step that could even give NFL offensive linemen trouble right away. The former five-star recruit leaves a bit of a mixed legacy at Ole Miss, with his play starting to reach an elite level last season prior to a late-season concussion and his bizarre arrest in an Atlanta hotel. He fell 15 feet out of a window, needed stiches in his back and leg and was busted for being in possession of marijuana. It has raised questions about his character, and multiple teams came away with mixed impressions after interviewing him at the combine.

Podcast: NFL Draft Preview Week 3: The Running Backs:

Grandstanding: A Yahoo Sports podcast
Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS feed

Best-suited destination: Nkemdiche probably would be best-served going to a team that is insulated with a strong locker room and one that is not afraid to roll the dice on talented players, such as the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos or Los Angeles Rams. He might be a better fit in a 4-3 scheme where he’s penetrating from a 3-technique position, but Nkemdiche could fit in an odd or even front easily. There’s a feeling that wherever he goes, it would be best for Nkemdiche to not have his brother, Denzel, close in tow. Some NFL teams believe that Robert is not a bad person at all but that he’s just easily influenced by people who might not have his best interests in mind.

Reason he’ll rise in draft: Even in a draft class that’s as stacked as this one at defensive tackle, you just don’t find physical specimens such as Nkemdiche roaming the streets. He has top-10 type talent, and if a team can feel comfortable with his personality and trust him to put in the full commitment needed to thrive, it could land a special player. Without the hotel incident, there would be little chance of Nkemdiche falling out — phrasing — of the first round.

Reason he’ll fall in draft: In a day and age where charatcer risks sometimes require ownership approval, Nkemdiche would not be a pick that would be easily rubber-stamped in every draft room. If a team has a similar grade on another defensive tackle with no known character issues, why take the risk? That’s how some NFL clubs do business. Plus, for all of Nkemdiche’s talent, the production doesn’t always match.

Scouting hot take: “You have him too low, bro. I get what you’re saying, but someone will [green light] him. He’s too good to fall I think. Just turn on the Bama tape. Dude put on a show.” — NFC scout

Player comp: Fletcher Cox

Expected draft range: Late first to early second round

Previous profiles

50. Ohio State WR Braxton nbsp; Miller
49. Indiana OT Jason nbsp; Spriggs
48. Florida DL Jonathan nbsp; Bullard
47. Texas Tech OT Le’Raven nbsp; Clark
46. Arkansas TE Hunter nbsp; Henry
45. Oklahoma WR Sterling nbsp; Shepard
44. Michigan State QB Connor nbsp; Cook
43. West Virginia S Karl nbsp; Joseph
42. Michigan State DE-OLB Shilique nbsp; Calhoun
41. Notre Dame WR Will nbsp; Fuller
40. Pitt WR Tyler nbsp; Boyd
39. Oklahoma State DE Emmanuel nbsp; Ogbah
38. Alabama DE-DT A’Shawn nbsp; Robinson
37. Mississippi State QB Dak nbsp; Prescott
36. Memphis QB Paxton nbsp; Lynch
35. Alabama C Ryan nbsp; Kelly
34. Louisiana Tech DT Vernon nbsp; Butler