2016 NFL Draft Profile: Sheldon Rankins, DT Louisville

Louisville defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is one of the top prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft, but how would he fit with Mike Zimmer’s Minnesota Vikings?

Have you ever heard the expression “tree trunks for legs”? Well, Louisville defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins has those kind of stumps. He’s a powerful interior defensive lineman who offenses will have trouble moving thanks to his lower body strength, clogging up running lanes against even the most powerful run blockers.

Not only that, but Rankins has an engine that just doesn’t seem to stop. He’ll fight through every play to the whistle and do so without taking plays off. But perhaps the most underestimated part of his game is his footwork. He moves from sideline to sideline fluidly, allowing him to disengage with his blocker and pursue ball carriers.

However, there are reasons he won’t be a top-10 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Primarily, teams will look at his height and see an undersized player who doesn’t have the appearance of a professional defensive tackle. Several draftniks seem to believe that he may not be as successful at the NFL level because of his lack of size, worrying that he will get pushed around by bigger and stronger offensive linemen.

Here are Louisville defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins’ numbers from the events at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine according to NFL.com:

Oct 30, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals defensive end Sheldon Rankins (98) reacts after tackling Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook during the first quarter at Papa John /

Height: 6’1″

Weight: 299 pounds

Arm Length: 33 3/8″

Hand Size: 9 3/8″

40 Yard Dash: 5.03 seconds

Bench Press: 28 reps

Vertical Jump: 34.5″

Broad Jump: 118″

3 Cone Drill: 7.44 seconds

20 Yard Shuttle: 4.59 seconds

Sheldon Rankins compares to:

CBS Sports: Kawann Short, Panthers
NFL.com: Grady Jarrett, Falcons

Fit for the Minnesota Vikings:

The Vikings are pretty set when it comes to defensive tackle right now. With Floyd, Joseph, Johnson, and Ellis all on the roster, adding another player like Rankins might not have the desired fit. However, if the team doesn’t seen Ellis as a long term answer, Minnesota may want to upgrade on him for a more reliable backup and potential future starter.

Next: 5 moves the Vikings should have made in free agency

My Take:

Sheldon Rankins wouldn’t be a sexy pick for the Vikings and it wouldn’t even fill a big need. However, head coach Mike Zimmer always values depth on the defensive line, so he might be an option if he’s available at #23 overall. Despite that, I don’t feel Rankins would be the smart pick for the team since there are so many solid defensive linemen in this draft and the early pick could be a better value used elsewhere.

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