The latest addition to the Jets contributes to a strength rather than addressing a weakness.
The team agreed on a deal with Sheldon Rankins on Sunday, a source reports. The NFL Network reported it was a two-year deal worth up to $ 17 million.
Rankins spent the past five seasons with the Saints, who took him to No. 12 overall in 2016 from Louisville. The 6-foot-2, 305-pounder started 33 games in New Orleans, but only one in the past two years. Injuries have been a problem for Rankins. He was on injured reserve with ankle and knee injuries in both 2019 and 2020.
The Jets should bet on Rankins, who turns 27 next month and can now stay healthy. He is known for being a strong run defender, but doesn’t generate much pass rush. PFF credits him with 43 total presses in 738 snaps in the past two years. The site ranked him 65th domestic defensive lineman at 125. He has 17½ sacks and 44 tackles for loss in his career. His best season was in 2018 when he had eight sacks and 12 TFLs.
The line of defense is one of the Jets’ few strengths. They have a thriving star there in Quinnen Williams alongside Folorunso Fatukasi and John Franklin-Myers, both of whom have shown promise. However, new coach Robert Saleh’s defense in the 49ers had a lot of good defensive linemen, so the Jets saw the opportunity to give Saleh a little more help on the position with Rankins.