Sheldon Rankins was drafted No. 12 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Louisville. 133 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 41 career approximate value
2016 NFL Draft · Rd 1, Pick 12 · #12 overall
Sheldon Rankins Louisville Draft
Sheldon Rankins was drafted No. 12 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Louisville. 133 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 41 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #12
- Round
- 1
- Draft class
- 2016
- NFL games
- 133
- Years as starter
- 6
- Career AV
- 4116th at Louisville
The pick
How Sheldon Rankins came off the board in 2016.
- Position
- Defensive tackle DT
- College
-
Louisville
ACC at the draft
- Measurables
- 6'1" · 299 lbs
- Hometown
- Covington, GA
- Pre-draft board
- No. 12 prospect91.0 grade
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
133 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 41 career approximate value
- Games played
- 133
- Seasons as a starter
- 6
- Career approximate value
- 4116th among Louisville picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 1537% of career value
- Final season
- 20259 years after the draft
Around pick 12
Who came off the board on either side of Sheldon Rankins.
Ohio State
Florida
Ole Miss · 5× Pro Bowl
West Virginia
Other DT picks from Louisville
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Sheldon Rankins in the 2016 NFL Draft
Sheldon Rankins is a Defensive tackle out of Louisville selected No. 12 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2016 NFL Draft. 133 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 41 career approximate value Louisville has produced 95 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Sheldon Rankins drafted?
Sheldon Rankins was selected No. 12 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2016 NFL Draft (Rd 1, Pick 12). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2016/sheldon-rankins.
What college did Sheldon Rankins play for?
Sheldon Rankins played college football at Louisville in the ACC. See every Louisville draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/louisville-cardinals.
How did Sheldon Rankins's NFL career turn out?
133 regular-season games · 6 seasons as a starter · 41 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2016/sheldon-rankins.