2016 NFL Mock Draft: New Orleans Saints Select DT Sheldon Rankins at No. 12

With the No. 12 pick in the 2016 DBN Community NFL Mock Draft, the New Orleans Saints select...

Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville

The selection and write-up were made by Rube Sports:

As much as I would love to pair Brees with a beast like Treadwell or pick the QBs future replacement, I must make the smart move.  Thanks to Denver the world saw how to defeat Cam and the leaders of the NFC South and that was by blunt force from the defensive front.  So despite what fun it would be to watch bombs from Brees to Treadwell, I must pick Sheldon Rankins.  He is an explosive player with a strong base and great athleticism.  He racked up 26.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks over his junior and senior seasons.  Pro Football Focus has him as the second-highest graded interior defender over the last two seasons.  After the dismissal of Rob Ryan during the Saints' 2015 season, they will be returning to a 4-3 defense suiting Rankins very well.  He may have to make up for his small stature at the interior position, but he seems confident about his ability to do so.

Rankins was quoted as saying the following: "I feel like I'm versatile enough to play in any scheme.  I feel like I'm versatile enough to play all up and down the defensive line.  I feel like I'm intelligent enough to grasp just about any defense and I feel like I'm dynamic enough to stay on the field all three downs."

Rankins has the ability to be an impact player right away.  And when paired with some other solid pieces it could go a long way to help stop the flow of opposing offenses.

The Miami Dolphins are up next, led by Brocolis154033.

2016 DBN Community Mock Draft Results (so far)