Chicago Bears: 5 offensive line targets in 2018 NFL Draft
4. Martinas Rankin, OL (Mississippi State)
Rankin’s NFL.com Draft Profile
If the Chicago Bears select Rankin, he could be the poster boy for a “swing” lineman. That’s right: a swing lineman, not just a swing tackle or a swing guard.
At 6’5″, 305 pounds with long arms, Rankin has the ability to play just about any line position you want. He started primarily at left tackle in college, but scouts believe that he would ultimately be better closer to the ball.
The issue is that Rankin, while certainly capable and able to use his arms as leverage, sometimes struggles to finish blocks and doesn’t overpower people as much as some of the other guys on this list.
Working with NFL trainers and learning how to better use his hands from one of the best offensive line coaches in the country could help with that, but it remains a concern. That as well as the fact that he struggles at times against speed.
With that said, Rankins might probably pick up the NFL game quicker from a mental standpoint than some other prospects.
He plays with great instincts, especially in pass protection, and is hard to fool with stunts and delayed rushes. His eyes don’t miss much, and yet he doesn’t panic when the heat is on.
Some things can be taught or developed with a young rookie coming out of a college. That poise isn’t always one of them.
And given his potential ability to play any of the five offensive line positions and swing around the inside especially, Rankins could be like gold for the Chicago Bears if they decided to take him. That way, maybe someone aside from Whitehair could be versatile for once, allowing him to stay put at center.