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Atlanta Falcons: To draft, not to draft prospects with red flags

By Freddie Boston

Sep 5, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith (9) signals in the first quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 38-3. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith (9) signals in the first quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 38-3. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 13, 2014; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (5) steps up to the line during the game against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2014; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (5) steps up to the line during the game against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports /

DT Robert Nkemdiche, Mississippi

Robert Nkemdiche has a ton of talent, but the off-the-field issues are a major concern. The defensive tackle was charged with marijuana possession after falling 15 feet out of a window back in December.

Yeah, that’s going to raise some concerns among NFL teams. It got even worse at the scouting combine in February. The Mississippi product has been accused of taking plays off, and Nkemdiche admitted to being lazy at times during his interview:

"“There’s times I didn’t finish, times I was lazy on some plays,” he said. “But I told (NFL teams) I’m going to keep growing as a player and I’m going to keep learning how to finish and I’m going to keep becoming more of a student of the game and focus on being the best NFL player I can be.”"

If a team is in need of taking a defensive lineman in the draft, there are a whole host of options available. This is one of the deepest classes for linemen for years, so rolling the dice on Nkemdiche seems far too risky.

He might go onto become the best of the class, but the gamble isn’t worth taking at No. 17.

To draft or not to draft: Not to draft

Next: Dominant pass rusher