Arizona Cardinals release former first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche
Robert Nkemdiche was drafted 29th overall in 2016, but did not come close to meeting expectations.
The Arizona Cardinals on Saturday released defensive lineman and former first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche. Selected 29th in the 2016 NFL Draft, Nkemdiche never came close to living up to expectations, in part due to injuries. He started just six games in his Arizona career, playing in 27 overall out of a possible 48 games and registering 44 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He tore his ACL in Week 14 last season and showed up to 2019 training camp out of shape.
Coach Kliff Kingsbury was obviously displeased with Nkemdiche, who began camp on the Physically Unable to Perform List.
"Not in shape, I guess," Kingsbury told reporters. "And that's kind of where we'll leave it. I mean, he's on PUP and he's working through that. When he is cleared, we'll work with him."
If Nkemdiche had been on the roster on the fifth day of camp, he would have earned a $400,000 bonus. The Cardinals will roll with Corey Peters, Rodney Gunter, Darius Philon, Zach Allen and Terrell McClain on the defensive line, per the team's official website.
The Cardinals are 300-1 long shots to win Super Bowl 54. For their Sept. 8 season opener against the visiting Lions, the Cardinals are listed as 2.5-point underdogs.
