SmashMouth

Sheldon Rankins DT

Rankins, the 12th pick of the 2016 draft, missed a chunk of his rookie season with a broken fibula he suffered during a preseason practice. He still managed to collect four sacks in nine games played, though. In 2017, Rankins started every game, showing good consistency and disruptiveness, but recorded very modest production with 26 total tackles and two sacks. Rankins is in position for a classic Year Three jump based upon his talent, consistency, and experience at the position. This should be the year where we see Rankins come into his own against both the run and pass. A season with 50 tackles and six or more sacks is attainable. If first-round pick Marcus Davenport, an edge rusher, can get out of the blocks quickly, that should help Rankins and the Saints’ defense even more.

NFL.com

Video here

K Major

Wow, we are already on season 3 for Rankins ?!

But honestly, I like his versatility (he can play vertical and horizontal). Half of his time was playing DE when Okafor went down. I also believe he will "break out" in 2018. There are play makers around him.

If we can click defensively as a UNIT & stay relatively healthy ... top 10 defense.

Rugby Saint II

Yeah, missing half his first year didn't help.

triman

Sheldon Rankins makes NFL.com breakout list says addition of Davenport will help Rankins increase his tackles and sacks

jeanpierre

There was even panic last year when DA moved Rankins to try him at defensive end - another worrisome sign...

Hope Rankins turns it around, but I'm not as optimistic - he's flashed maybe once (Buffalo), but never had that impact as the No. 12 pick was sold...

At Louisville, he could physically take over games as more of a 3-4 4T-DE that made double-teams difficult, but in the NFL he get's manhandled at the 3-Tech...