New Orleans Saints take Sheldon Rankins in latest Mel Kiper mock draft
The New Orleans Saints will be the landing spot for former Louisville defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins, according to Mel Kiper’s 2016 NFL Mock Draft 2.0.
Mel Kiper, an NFL Draft analyst for ESPN, said Sheldon Rankins’ outstanding Senior Bowl week performance should have him going in the top half of the first round. The New Orleans Saints are currently positioned to draft No. 12 overall in the upcoming selection process. Here’s what Kiper had to say:
"12. New Orleans SaintsSheldon Rankins, DL, LouisvilleThe Saints are in the midst of a rebuild on the defensive side of the ball, and Rankins can be unblockable when he’s at his best, with exceptional quickness and the ability to make plays in the backfield from the interior. A stellar week at the Senior Bowl secured his place in the top half of Round 1."
At the collegiate level, Rankins proved that he could do it all. Whether it was attacking from the middle, rushing from the edge, or plugging the gaps, production was not hard to come by.
At 6-foot-1, 304 pounds, he’s not the biggest defensive tackle in the draft, but his strength, power and quick feet off the snap outweigh it. He’s a hardworking, ‘all-over-the-field’ kind of player, attacking ball carriers any chance he gets.
His versatility and flexibility make him a perfect fit for virtually any scheme, including the New Orleans Saints, where he could find success along the entire defensive front.
Like Louisiana Tech’s Vernon Butler, Sheldon Rankins dominated his blockers at Senior Bowl practices. This is somebody who New Orleans should play close attention to when the scouting combine rolls around.
Mel Kiper gives the Who Dat Nation a solid pick here. In his first mock draft, he had the New Orleans Saints taking home defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson of the Alabama Crimson Tide.