NFL draft profile: Louisville DT Sheldon Rankins, interior disruptor

Shutdown Corner is counting down the top 50 prospects in the 2016 NFL draft with a scouting report, quotes from NFL evaluators and a projection where they might be drafted.

7. Louisville DT Sheldon Rankins
6-foot-1, 299 pounds

Key stat: Over his past 26 starts the past two seasons, Rankins has totaled 111 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss and 14 sacks.

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The skinny: Battled through knee, ankle and shoulder injuries his first two years in school as a rotational player in the Cardinals’ 4-3 system in 2012 and 2013. Then under new coordinator Todd Grantham in 2014 and 2015, they switched to a 3-4 front and Rankins broke out. Playing both right and left end he became one of the best interior defenders in the country, known for his quickness and explosion off the snap. Check out the athleticism on Rankins’ 46-yard fumble return for a score against Boston College last fall.

Rankins went down to the Senior Bowl as an ascending player, and he emerged from the practice sessions are one of the best one-on-one performers. Although he sprained a knee in Mobile, it did not affect him at the NFL scouting combine where he turned in the best DT times for vertical (34.5 inches) and broad jumps (118 inches), as well as a terrific 10-yard split (1.69 seconds) on his 40-yard dash. The two-time captain’s character is also regarded to be tremendous.

Best-suited destination: Although he broke out in the 3-4 system in college, Rankins might ideally be suited to be a 4-3 “under” tackle where he can use his elite quickness and low center of gravity to get off the ball and knife into the backfield. There are some teams running 3-4 schemes in the league that feel Rankins could play in their system even at his height, mostly because he has decent enough arm length (33.5 inches) and excellent power to hold the point.

Reason he’ll rise in draft: With strong production, great athletic traits, exceptional character and good football instincts, there is not a lot to dislike about Rankins’ game. He’s expected to be an immediate contributor, if not a starter, as a rookie. He plays with a hot motor, has good versatility and can do the dirty work as well as make plays for a defense needing a shot in the arm. Rankins is just a mostly clean evaluation who should be able to fit most schemes, even though he might be best in “40” fronts.

Reason he’ll fall in draft: Teams that place value in having the biggest interior players or who demand that they must be exceptional at absorbing double teams might not love Rankins. He’s not a pure fit in a true two-gapping system because it doesn’t play to his strengths, and it might highlight his few shortcomings. Some teams’ medical staffs have noted his fairly extensive injury history; even though he hasn’t missed a lot of time in recent seasons, he seems to be a guy who spends a lot of time in the tub.

Scouting hot take: “I love him. Give me that guy. We have one here that’s like him. We got him on the third day [of the draft] and now he’s our best player. [Rankins] has that same look. He’s not the biggest, he’s just the best. He just snaps those hips off the whistle. It’s like a slingshot.” — NFC pro scout who cross-checked D-linemen

Player comp: Mike Daniels

Expected draft range: Top 15 pick

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