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Could Ole Miss’ Robert Nkemdiche fall to the Seahawks at No. 26?

Feb 22, 2016, 11:56 AM | Updated: Apr 11, 2016, 4:10 pm

Mel Kiper Jr. considers Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche one of the draft’s top 10...

Mel Kiper Jr. considers Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche one of the draft's top 10 talents. (AP)

(AP)

Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest projection on ESPN.com has the Seahawks taking Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, one of the most physically gifted player in this year’s draft.

Kiper called Nkemdiche a top-10 talent for the surprising athleticism he possesses with his 6-foot-4, 296-pound frame, even if he lacked production in college with just 6.5 sacks in three seasons.

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There are off-the-field concerns with Nkemdiche, though, most notably that he fell out of a hotel window in December, with police finding a small amount of synthetic marijuana in his hotel room. The 21-year-old was suspended for the Sugar Bowl.

The Seahawks haven’t shied away from controversial selections. For example, last year they used their first pick on defensive lineman Frank Clark, who had been dismissed from Michigan’s football team after an alleged domestic-violence incident.

So, will Nkemdiche actually be available when the Seahawks pick at No. 26? Brock Huard doesn’t think so.

“He is just too physically gifted to fall (that far),” Huard said on the Blue 42 segment of “Brock and Salk” Friday. “When you’re talking about a 300-pound man in the middle of your defense who runs and moves like a 220-pound man, you’re not falling out of the top 15. I don’t see that happening.”

Another ESPN draft expert, Todd McShay, has the Raiders selecting Nkemdiche with the No. 14 pick, with Seattle then taking Baylor defensive tackle Andrew Billings.

Meanwhile, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein and Chad Reuter as well as Pete Prisco of CBS Sports have the Seahawks picking Louisville defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, who has also caught Huard’s eye.

Here a video with some of Nkemdiche’s highlights.

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Could Ole Miss’ Robert Nkemdiche fall to the Seahawks at No. 26?