$26 million defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is likely a cut candidate this upcoming offseason. The Cincinnati Bengals are entering 2025 with a salary cap at a limit and they have several moves to make like bringing back wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. However, they can’t accomplish most of their goals this offseason so this will force the team to release some of their key starters with under $50 million in cap space. While the front office focuses on shoring up the passing game quarterback Joe Burrow, they will likely sacrifice their defensive unit in the trenches.
One report suggests the Bengals should release Rankins, who came onto the team this past offseason on a two-year deal just playing seven games. After suffering an illness, the Bengals were without him for the rest of the season who’s been struggling to anchor the interior defensive line. Originally selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the former Louisville product came into the league spending the first four seasons with the New Orleans Saints before injuries slowed him down in 2020. Despite helping them in the postseason, it wasn’t enough for him to remain on the team as he became a journeyman with the Jets and Texans for the next several seasons.
Rankins is no elite pass-rusher but seeing from his stats, recording 28.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and 228 total tackles, it’s clear he has something teams could be looking for. While he’s been battling injuries for the majority of his career, he might earn himself a one-year deal to prove he can be efficient in the defensive front. Two teams like the Chargers and Panthers could take on the journeyman as a rotator in the trenches.
$26 Million Defensive Tackle Sheldon Rankins Likely a Cut Candidate – Chargers, Panthers Top Suitors
Old School Football
Head Coach Jim Harbaugh wanted to head into the 2024 season with a physical defense and an efficient ground game for quarterback Justin Herbert. However, they found themselves as a first-round exit and Harbaugh said they did Herbert a “disservice” in their run for a Super Bowl, so the main focal point might be fixing the passing game for the Chargers. Despite that, since Khalil Mack is contemplating retirement and Joey Bosa will likely be a new uniform in 2025, this will force the Chargers to find the next big shot to re-capture Harbaugh’s vision of winning in the trenches.
Teair Tart coming into the team has been nothing but average, while Otito Ogbonnia has yet to make noise in the defensive front. Poona Ford has been explosive in finding the gaps but since the Chargers are getting younger, they should be looking for more veteran experience. Rankins might not be a superstar like Mack but if he can stay healthy and disrupt the middle to get pressure on the quarterback, he could be a problem.
Rebuilding the Panthers
The focus for the Carolina Panthers this past offseason was reconstructing the offense for Bryce Young but after trading Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo, it hasn’t panned out. Head Coach Dave Canales barely made moves to bring in some physical hitters other than signing Jadeveon Clowney. With Derrick Brown returning next season, the Panthers should prioritize signing a few defensive front talent to help keep the team on balance. Rankins is no god and won’t fix the entire defensive line with a magic wand but he’s an extra body the team could work with.
Carolina might have their focus on the offense, but all they need is a few capable wide receivers to help Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette in the aerial attack. Taking Rankins at a cheap price could give the Panthers another capable defensive lineman without them going broke.
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