KC Chiefs Go With Safe Pick In 2016 Mock Draft

Round 2 – Pick 59: Sheldon Rankins (Defensive Tackle, Louisville)

Let’s go ahead and stick with the safe picks. CBS Sports’ has Sheldon Rankins listed at 24th overall.

He was sidelined in the Senior Bowl with an injury. If that injury along with concerns about his size are enough to push Rankins down the board, the Chiefs would get a steal of a pick.

Sheldon Rankins played very well in his final two seasons at Louisville racking up 111 combined tackles along with 14 sacks. He also managed to snag two interceptions which may indicate just how good his hands are for a defensive tackle.

Jaye Howard and Mike DeVito may both be on their way out due to free agency. The Chiefs could use a run-stuffing defensive tackle even for depth and Rankins fits that profile.

CBS Sports lists a bunch of strengths including his athleticism, quickness, and determination. The biggest strength may be just how few weakness they could find stating:

"Weaknesses: Need to continue to refine his skills. Has active hands, but he’s still developing his pass rush moves and the placement of his punch. IN OUR VIEW: Rankins is one of the better run defenders in this draft class and continues to grow as a pass rusher. He entered Senior Bowl week with first-round grades and he only helped himself there with a dominating week."

Targeting Rankins would allow the Chiefs to let DeVito and Howard walk and save them some cap space as well. If Rankins can play greater than his size, he may turn out to be the best player in this mock draft class.

Next: Keeping Things In Line