Former First-Round Pick Signs Contract With Cincinnati Bengals

Sheldon Rankins, Cincinnati Bengals, Agree to Contract

After signing a one-year contract with the Houston Texans, Sheldon Rankins had his best season in years. Starting and appearing in 15 games, the defensive tackle finished the season with six sacks, 37 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, and 10 quarterback hits. With his help, Houston made it all the way to the AFC Divisional Round before falling to the Baltimore Ravens.

Sheldon Rankins originally entered the league as a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Selected by the New Orleans Saints, the Louisville product spent most of his rookie season in a rotational role while battling injuries. Appearing in just nine games without making a start, the rookie finished his inaugural season with four sacks, 20 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, and six quarterback hits.

Rankins built on this promising season to earn a full-time starting job in 2017. While on the field, Rankins recorded two sacks, 26 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, and nine quarterback hits. The Louisville product continued to improve and had his best statistical season in 2018. Starting all 16 games, Rankins recorded a career-high eight sacks, 40 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss, and 15 quarterback hits.

After two seasons where injuries limited him to a combined 22 games, Sheldon Rankins signed a two-year contract with the New York Jets. In 2020, the interior lineman finished the year with three sacks, 32 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, and seven quarterback hits. He followed this up by getting three sacks, 43 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, and seven quarterback hits in the 2022 season.

Since signing his rookie contract, Sheldon Rankins has appeared in 109 games while making 66 starts. While on the field, the former first-round pick has recorded 29.5 sacks, 228 tackles, 43 tackles-for-loss, and 68 quarterback hits.