NFL Mock Draft 2016: Tennessee throws a curve ball

11. player. 57. <p>The Bears would have been a soft landing spot for an elite linebacker (Myles Jack, most specifically) in this spot if free agency did not exist. However, Chicago committed approximately all of the money to a pair of veterans at the position, and as a result, moving toward linebacker in this draft no longer feels like a possibility.</p> <p>To shift gears, Chicago ends up with a stellar defensive line prospect in this spot, and that makes life easier on the newly-signed veterans behind him. Sheldon Rankins might not be the best pure defensive line prospect on the board, as the Alabama duo of A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed and a few others would be in the mix. However, Rankins is a fast-rising prospect in some circles and, especially in the case of the Bears, his versatility simply cannot be overlooked as a tie-breaking factor.</p> <p>Rankins can play alongside Chicago’s already available defensive line options in a variety of different ways, using his talents to rush the passer in some sets or plugging run gaps in others. While Chicago may fall in love with another prospect at this spot or go somewhere else altogether, Rankins does make a ton of sense from a versatility standpoint, and more than anything, the Bears just need <em>players</em> on the defensive side of the ball.</p>. DT. Louisville. Sheldon Rankins