The Houston Texans agreed to terms with free-agent defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (illness) on a one-year deal worth up to $7 million on Monday, a source told The Athletic's Dianna Russini. It's a reunion for Rankins, who spent the 2023 season with the Texans before joining the Bengals in 2024. The 30-year-old defensive tackle missed three games with a hamstring injury and the final seven games with the Bengals last year after signing a two-year, $24.5 million deal last year. In his seven games played in 2024, Rankins had 18 tackles (10 solo) and one sack. The former 12th overall pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2016 out of Louisville had 37 tackles (29 solo), six sacks, nine tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in 15 regular-season starts for the Texans in 2023. Rankins will provide veteran depth on the interior of Houston's defensive line in his return.
The Cincinnati Bengals have several veterans that are likely to be salary cap casualties this offseason, including defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (illness), offensive lineman Alex Cappa, defensive lineman Sam Hubbard and linebacker Germaine Pratt, but The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that Rankins is the most certain cut of the group. When healthy, Rankins only had one sack and four QB pressures and then missed the second half of the season with an illness. The Bengals signed the 30-year-old to a two-year, $24.5 million deal last offseason but will save $9.6 million against the 2025 cap if they cut him. Rankins isn't going to see a roster bonus that he's due on March 17. In addition to just his one sack recorded in 2024, Rankins had only 18 tackles (10 solo) over his seven games played.
Bengals Agree On Two-Year Deal With Sheldon Rankins
The Cincinnati Bengals agreed to terms on a two-year, $26 million deal with free-agent defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins on Wednesday, according to sources. Rankins, the former 12th overall pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2016 out of Louisville, will join Lou Anarumo's defense in Cincinnati after recording six sacks, 37 tackles (29 solo), nine tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in 15 regular-season starts in his lone season with the Houston Texans. The 29-year-old defensive tackle will pair up with B.J. Hill to improve the interior of the Bengals' defensive line in 2024. In his eight NFL seasons, Rankins has 29.5 sacks, 228 tackles (146 solo), 43 tackles for loss, 68 QB hits, one interception, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 109 games (66 starts).
Houston Texans defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins was amongst the Week 10 leaders in IDP scoring, as he had three sacks and forced a fumble in the Texans' 30-27 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. After missing Weeks 8 and 9 with a knee injury and a Week 7 bye, this was Rankins' first game since Week 6, a game in which he recorded six tackles and one sack. His sack in Week 6 and his three sacks in Week 10 are his only four sacks of the season. Rankins has never had more than four sacks since his rookie season. While he is available as a free agent in most IDP leagues and is on a hot streak, Rankins would most likely not be a valuable addition unless he can keep this streak going.
The Houston Texans signed free-agent defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to a one-year, $10.5 million deal on Wednesday, according to a source. New head coach DeMeco Ryans secures a big piece for his new defensive front in Houston. Rankins, a former first-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2016, spent the last two years with the New York Jets and recorded 40 solo tackles, six sacks, nine tackles for loss, 14 QB hits, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 31 games played (18 starts). The 28-year-old is a big addition to help improve a Texans defense that was gashed by the run in 2022.
Sheldon Rankins Placed On IR, Ty Montgomery Activated
The New Orleans Saints placed defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (knee) on Injured Reserve on Friday and activated running back Ty Montgomery (hamstring) from IR in a corresponding move. Rankins sprained the MCL in his knee in the Week 8 overtime win over the Bears, and he'll be out for at least the next three weeks. He's been one of the team's better pass-rushers in his contract year, ranking fourth with 13 QB pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. Before Montgomery went down with his injury earlier in the year, he had played more snaps on special teams (36) than on offense (10). He'll be a long shot to contribute much on offense unless injuries strike New Orleans' backfield.
New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (Achilles) is expected to make his season debut on Sunday night against the Cowboys, barring a setback. Rankins was a force inside for the Saints in 2018, registering 41 total tackles, eight sacks and one forced fumble in a full season. His return will be a big boost to New Orleans' defense in the trenches and is a slight downgrade for Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. Still, the Saints Defense should be ignored on Sunday night in fantasy in what could be a high-scoring game in the Superdome.
New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (Achilles) is expected to come off the Physically Unable to Perform list Monday. Rankins is a very good interior lineman, but he's not an option in individual defensive player leagues. His impact, though, would strengthen the Saints defensive team profoundly. He stuffs the middle and allows edge rushers like Cameron Jordan more freedom on the outside to pursue sacks. The Saints defensive team is a mid-to-low option in fantasy.
The New Orleans Saints picked up the fifth-year option on defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins on Wednesday, according to a source. Rankins is one of the best young defensive linemen in the league but will be an option to start on the Physically Unable to Perform list this year while recovering from an Achilles injury suffered in 2018. The 25-year-old had a career-high 41 tackles and eight sacks while also adding a forced fumble in his full season with the Saints in 2018.
Sheldon Rankins
• DT
•
Texans
