Full PFF Scouting Report on Rankins

Position fit:

Any position along the defensive interior. Fit for either 2-gap or 1-gap.
Stats to know:

Second-highest-graded interior defender over the last two seasons.
What he does best:

• Elite short-area quickness for his size. Makes offensive linemen look silly with nut-stunts.
• Immediately controls linemen when playing from a head-up position.
• Already understands his leverage advantage and drives through offensive linemen.
• Explosive interior player. One of the few in the class that offers some juice as a pass-rusher. Was one of most successful players in one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl.
Biggest concern:

• Production completely died off over last six games in 2015.
• Size doesn’t seem to fit his strengths. Was great in college at 2-gapping, but his limited height (6-foot-1) and length means that may not translate to NFL.
• Disappeared as a pass-rusher for stretches. Was held without a single pressure in his final college game against Texas A&M.
Player style comparison:

Jurrell Casey, Tennessee Titans. Both are short, squatty defensive tackles that are far more versatile than their size suggests.
Bottom line:

Rankins’ versatility and production should outweigh any concerns about his height. The DT checks so many boxes that he should be an early first-rounder.


1. Sheldon Rankins, Louisville

Best draft fits: NO(12), MIA(13), OAK(14)
His height (6-1) and weight (299 pounds) might scare some 3-4 teams, but there is little doubt in my mind after watching him play head up on tackles last season that Rankins can do it all and did just that at Louisville. If you’re a 4-3 team that plays sides with their defensive tackles or a 3-4 team that gets creative with its fronts, Rankins is your guy. Over the past two seasons, only DeForest Buckner has a higher overall grade on the interior.