Could the Arizona Cardinals have an even greater need for an interior lineman? In an appearance on Bleave’s podcast, Draft Analyst writer Troy Pauline went over a recent mock draft where he mocked Quinnen Williams to the Cardinals at No. 1. The reason? He’s heard the Cardinals will cut 2016 first round pick, defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche.
“The other factor that played into the choice was a tip I received during the Senior Bowl. And that is that the Cardinals are likely to cut Robert Nkemdiche, their starting defensive tackle who was selected in the first round of the 2016 Draft. Nkemdiche has never finished a season healthy, and several people I’ve spoke with since the Senior Bowl tell me that they will believe the Cardinals will cut him.”
Nkemdiche has played 27 of 48 games in his three seasons in the NFL. He has 44 tackles for his career. His 2018 was substantially better where he got 4.5 sacks for the season—the only sacks he’s had his three years in the NFL. If you want to compare, San Francisco 49ers 2017 first-round pick Solomon Thomas has 72 tackles in two seasons and four sacks. Thomas has gotten a lot of flack for his production, but if you compare the two, things could be a lot worse.
If the Cardinals cut Nkemdiche, the need for a defensive tackle becomes more important and swings things more in favor of Williams. While the Cardinals have decent edge rushing already with Chandler Jones. Cutting Nkemdiche would mirror the same need the 49ers have for an edge rusher. The Cardinals already have a glaring need on the interior and it gets even more necessary with this. Taking a defensive end (READ: Nick Bosa) may be detrimental to the roster with this need.
For you Nick Bosa fans, this is an ideal scenario.