NFL: One breakout star for each team in the 2018 season

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 07: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers rushes out of the pocket from Sheldon Rankins #98 of the New Orleans Saints during the second half of the NFC Wild Card playoff game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 7, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

15. . DT, New Orleans. . Sheldon Rankins. . team

Sheldon Rankins showed flashes in his rookie season in 2016 with four sacks in nine games and took on a new role as a full-time starter in 2017.

With a great combination of power and quickness, Rankins is an explosive athlete at the defensive tackle position who should be eating up tackles for loss and making a ton of plays in the backfield in general.

He had just two sacks in 16 starts last season, but entering year three, he’s a candidate to break out for the Saints and establish himself as a top interior rusher in the NFC.

He just turned 24 this offseason and still has so much potential.

With the Saints continuing to improve on the defensive front this offseason with the addition of Marcus Davenport, perhaps more one-on-one matchups will open up for Rankins.

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