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ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper has released his second mock draft of the draft season and he's still got the Saints getting help in the pass rush department by drafting a defensive lineman. But this time, it's a new name.
Kiper's got the Saints taking defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins from the Louisville Cardinals, and here's why:
Sheldon Rankins, DL, Louisville
The Saints are in the midst of a rebuild on the defensive side of the ball, and Rankins can be unblockable when he's at his best, with exceptional quickness and the ability to make plays in the backfield from the interior. A stellar week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl secured his place in the top half of Round 1.
Again, I don't think anyone would complain about the Saints going with pass rush help in the first round. That's arguably the team's biggest need this off-season. Rankins wasn't even on the radar when we put together our initial CSC Mock Draft Database last month, but seems to be rising on draft boards everywhere.
After a great showing during the Senior Bowl, he's been rising up everyone's draft boards. Daniel Jeremiah also has the Saints taking Rankins and Todd McShay gushed over him after putting him in his Top 10 yesterday:
"Rankins was clearly the best defensive lineman in Senior Bowl practices, as he showed explosiveness in one-on-one pass-rush drills and stuffed the run during 11-on-11. He has compiled 15 sacks the past two seasons and is a load for any O-line to handle because of his rare combination of quickness and power."
What do you guys think?