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Mike Mayock's Top Defensive Linemen in the 2016 NFL Draft

Start familiarizing yourself with these names because the Saints may very well draft one of them in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Draft analyst Mike Mayock recently released his 2016 NFL Draft rankings for each position group and while some positions are of little interest to us as Saints fans - like anything on the offensive side of the ball - others are of the utmost importance.

Like defensive line. The Saints definitely need some help in the pass rush department and most mock drafts so far have the Saints taking a defensive pass rusher. The good news is that defensive line is arguably the deepest position in the draft this year.

Below are the top five defensive linemen, both interior and edge, in this year's draft class, as determined by Mayock. Start familiarizing yourself with these guys. Learn them, live them, love them.

Interior defensive line

1. DeForest Buckner, Oregon 
2. Robert Nkemdiche, Ole Miss 
3. Sheldon Rankins, Louisville 
4. Jarran Reed, Alabama 
5. A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama

Edge rusher

1. Joey Bosa, Ohio State 
2. Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky 
3. Shaq Lawson, Clemson 
4. Leonard Floyd, Georgia 
5. Kevin Dodd, Clemson

Which players should be considered and which players should be crossed off immediately? Which players will be available when the Saints are on the clock at No. 12? Let's chat...