The Jets’ latest addition adds strength rather than addressing a weakness.
The team on Sunday agreed to a deal with defensive attacker Sheldon Rankins, a source confirmed. The NFL Network report it was a two-year deal worth up to $ 17 million.
Rankins has spent the past five seasons with the Saints, which set him an overall No. 12 out of Louisville in 2016. The 6-foot-2, 305-pounder has started 33 games in New Orleans, but only one in the last two years. Injuries were a problem for Rankins. He was in both 2019 and 2020 in an injured reserve with ankle and knee injuries.
The Jets need to bet that Rankins, who turns 27 next month, can stay healthy now. He is known as a strong defender of the run, but does not generate much pass rate. PFF has recognized him over the past two years with 43 total pressure in 738 snaps. The website ranked him as the 65th domestic defense line of 125. He has 17 bags and 44 tackles for his loss. His best season was in 2018 when he had eight sacks and 12 TFLs.
Defensive line is one of the few strengths of the Jets. They have a thriving star there in Quinnen Williams, alongside Folorunso Fatukasi and John Franklin-Myers, who have both shown promise. However, new coach Robert Saleh’s defense against the 49ers had very good defensive lines, so the Jets saw the opportunity to give Saleh more help with the position at Rankins.