The scene was the same for about two years. Sheldon Rankins sitting at his locker, eyes straight ahead, explaining why he felt he was playing well despite not putting together the kind of sack numbers that validate a first-round pass rusher.
His answers were always gracious, patient and illuminating, but you could tell, by the end of his second season, the Saints defensive tackle had grown tired of the exchange. So, he changed the conversation in 2018 by picking up eight sacks before suffering a torn Achilles during the playoffs.
Finally, he arrived.
Or did he?