Sheldon Rankins, Jaylon Smith to the New Orleans Saints in latest Todd McShay mock draft

ESPN Draft Analyst Todd McShay released his latest NFL Mock Draft on Thursday, and it has the New Orleans Saints addressing the defense in a big way with their first two picks in the 2016 draft.

With the 12th overall selection, McShay mocked Louisville defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to the Crescent City. Here’s what he had to say about the pick:

"Sheldon Rankins, DT, LouisvilleThe Saints are in dire need of a defensive tackle who can push the pocket from the inside, and one of Rankins’ best attributes is his ability to pressure the QB (14.0 sacks during his last two seasons at Louisville). He has a rare combination of quickness and power, which he showed off during one-on-one pass-rush drills at the Senior Bowl."

It’s the fourth straight mock draft in which McShay has a defensive tackle to the black and gold, which bounced from Jarran Reed (1.0) to A’Shawn Robinson (2.0, 3.0). This particular mock, which requires ESPN Insider access to view, has Sean Payton’s squad passing on several players. Wide receiver Laquon Treadwell fell to No. 15 (Los Angeles Rams), linebacker Darron Lee went to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 17, and defensive tackle Andrew Billings fell all the way to No. 21 for the Washington Redskins.

Clearly, defensive tackle is a position of need for the Saints. While their philosophy could ultimately change if they were to still be in the Nick Fairley sweepstakes, a clear need for a space eater in run defense is just what the doctor ordered for Dennis Allen’s squad. Sheldon Rankins was actually paired to the Saints in Mel Kiper’s Mock 3.0.

Rankins isn’t the biggest defensive tackle out there, but offers a combination of strength, agility, and quickness off the snap that compensate for any physical shortcomings. He screams of being a 4-3 defensive tackle, and will bring versatility and flexibility for any suitor. Rankins flashed at Senior Bowl practices, and ran a 5.03 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He was also a top performer in the Vertical Jump, Broad Jump, and Bench Press.

At pick No. 47 in the second round, McShay tabbed Notre Dame outside linebacker Jaylon Smith for the Saints. Here’s McShay’s assessment:

"Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre DameSmith got as high as No. 2 on my Top 32 during the season before suffering a devastating knee injury in the Fiesta Bowl. How his medical information checks out will determine where he ends up getting selected. When healthy, Smith is one of the best defensive prospects in recent years."

I recently mocked Smith to the Saints in the fourth round nearly a week ago, which may have been a bit of a stretch. However, that’s just how the chips fell. Smith has the greatest risk-reward for any team that drafts him, as he’s a premiere athlete that possesses it all. Whether you ask Smith to cover, tackle, pass rush, fill in gaps, or make a big play, he has the ability to do it at a fairly consistent level. Smith may not play in 2016, so that has to be top of mind for any team that wants to take him.

Given the recent flurry of free agent additions for the Saints at linebacker, drafting Jaylon Smith could be a realistic possibility if he’s there.