Dolphins Sign Former Cardinals 1st-Round DE Robert Nkemdiche

Robert Nkemdiche's career wasn't supposed to go this way.

Drafted 29th overall by the Arizona Cardinals three years ago, the heralded Ole Miss Rebel didn't exactly cover himself in glory. His body gradually betrayed him, and scrapes with the law did him no favors. The banged-up defensive end found himself released this summer by the team that used a first-round pick on him.

Now, the Miami Dolphins are buying low. They signed Nkemdiche Thursday and immediately placed him on the NFL's PUP list.

Though just 24 years of age, the Atlanta-born edge rusher emerged out of high school as one of the highest-rated prospects in the history of modern recruiting rankings. He earned All-SEC and All-America Second Team honors in his third and final season of college football, but has been plainly unimpressive and even problematic as a pro. For his career, he has 4.5 sacks in 27 games.

His nagging injuries -- the Cardinals opted to waive him rather than picking up his contract option due to a failed physical -- are clearly an issue. His off-field problems, however, are an equally painful headache. He was arrested for marijuana possession near the end of his college career, was rendered unconscious after falling out of a window in an unrelated incident, and was cited for speeding earlier this summer only to have cops discover a mysterious powdery substance in his car.

But hope springs eternal. Though it's still a big question as to whether he can get his body right in time to play a full 2019 slate, the Miami Dolphins have nothing to lose here. If he fails, he fails. But if the guy can find a way to reclaim the narrative of his career and turn things around, we'll suddenly be looking at one of the more pleasing redemption arcs in the world of football.