Sheldon Rankins, much like Spence before him, finds himself in a great situation. After being used out of position at Louisville far too often, Rankins can line up strictly inside, whether it’s at nose or at 3-technique during 4-3 looks, and use his power to get after the quarterback. Again, he won’t be forced into a starting lineup too soon but will get plenty of work as he continues to develop.
Rankins isn’t quite the polished product some seem to believe he is, in my opinion, and he certainly isn’t worth a top-fifteen pick. To have him fall to a playoff contender and learn as he begins to take over that defensive line will help the Chiefs in both the long and the short term.
Next: Number Twenty-Nine: Arizona Cardinals