5 NFL Teams That Should Buy Low on Former 1st-Round Pick Robert Nkemdiche

After being ranked the No. 1 recruit in the country coming out of high school -- and the highest-rated prospect literally of all time, per 247Sports -- defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche has underwhelmed for six straight years. He recorded just 6 sacks in three seasons at Ole Miss, and 4.5 sacks, all of which came last year, in three seasons as an Arizona Cardinal. Nkemdiche remains a talented rusher, but his poor attitude and conditioning prompted Kliff Kingsbury to cut him. With that in mind, these five NFL teams should take a flier on a 24-year-old who could finally figure it out in the right system.

5. Dallas Cowboys

Jerry Jones and the Cowboys will embrace you, baggage and all, if they think you can rush the passer. You need look no further than Greg Hardy and Randy Gregory. Nkemdiche still is plenty strong and versatile for a 3 technique or 1 technique lineman, and could make for a nice backup for Maliek Collins that will rotate with second-round pick Trysten Hill.

4. New England Patriots

This is Bill Belichick's specialty. Take a player that everyone else has given up on due to their inability to control themselves off of the field, indoctrinate them into the Patriots culture, and turn them into stars. Belichick's specialty is the defensive side of the ball, specifically rushing the passer; f anyone can make it work for Nkemdiche, it's the man in the hoodie.

3. Denver Broncos

Denver might have the best pass-rushing outside linebacking duo in football in Bradley Chubb and Von Miller, but the interior defensive line is being propped up by Derek Wolfe alone and lacks tons of depth. In a Vic Fangio defense, an interior lineman needs to be able to move around and win consistently in pass-rushing situations, which Nkemdiche could do on talent alone if his head is on straight.

2. Philadelphia Eagles

A defensive line of Derek Barnett, Fletcher Cox, and Malik Jackson is as good as it gets in the NFC. However, what really made Jim Schwartz's defense tough to handle was how they kept coming at teams in waves thanks to their depth, which they lost thanks to the departures of Chris Long and Michael Bennett. The Eagles staff has made studs out of duds before, so they should take a flier on Nkemdiche.

1. Miami Dolphins

When you're tanking, or at the very least are acknowledging you won't win many games this season, the Dolphins should look to accumulate talent irrespective of position for the sake of building a complete roster. If he landed in Miami, Nkemdiche would be guaranteed playing time, would be coached by Brian Flores and a bunch of Patriots transplants, and wouldn't have the crushing expectations he had in Arizona.