Who is Sheldon Rankins? Cincinnati's new DT has much in common with DJ Reader
One of the biggest questions of the offseason for the Cincinnati Bengals was what to do at defensive tackle, with DJ Reader an unrestricted free agent.
Reader visited Detroit and reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with the Lions, while the Bengals added one of the best free agents available at the position in Sheldon Rankins.
The Enquirer's Kelsey Conway confirmed a two-year deal worth $26 million for Rankins, a former first-round draft pick who has played eight seasons in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets and Houston Texans. The Bengals introduced Rankins on Monday.
Rankins is familiar to Bengals fans because he wreaked havoc during the Bengals' heartbreaking loss to Houston last November, including three sacks of Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow.
What to know about Rankins, who is expected to bolster the Bengals' interior pass rush:
Rankins' third sack of Burrow in the Bengals' loss to the Texans was especially costly.
Many fans had already left Paycor Stadium when the Bengals mounted their fourth-quarter comeback against the Texans.
Burrow's 64-yard pass to receiver Tyler Boyd just before the 2-minute warning gave Cincinnati a 1st-and-7 at the Houston 7.
Then, Rankins sacked Burrow for a 7-yard loss. After a short run and an incomplete pass, the Bengals had to settle for a 31-yard Evan McPherson.
The Texans won moments later on a game-winning field goal.
In addition, one of Rankins' three sacks during the 2021 season was of Burrow during the Jets' 34-31 win against the Bengals.
From The Enquirer's Charlie Goldsmith via Twitter/X:
After the Texans beat the Bengals last year, Sheldon Rankins was asked about the key to his big game: “Yeah, I’ve always been a guy who’s kind of seen the big picture, understand what’s coming, understand what teams are trying to do, and always trying to get my guys on the same…
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) March 14, 2024
Rankins is three months older than Reader.
Rankins will be 30 in April. Reader will be 30 in July.
Last season in Houston, Rankins posted his highest sack total (6.0) and quarterback-hit total (10) since 2018, when he played for the Saints.
Rankins also scored his first career touchdown last season, on a 13-yard fumble return against the Tennessee Titans on New Year's Eve.
Rankins and Reader both wear No. 98.
Something would've had to give if the Bengals had decided to bring back Reader to join Rankins and BJ Hill.
Reader has worn No. 98 in all eight of his NFL seasons. Rankins has worn No. 98 for all three NFL teams for which he's played.
Rankins also wore No. 98 in college; Reader wore No. 48 at Clemson.
Rankins was the 12th overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
Ten of the 11 players selected ahead of Rankins in 2016 remain active, including former Bengals defensive back Eli Apple.
The Bengals' first-round pick in 2016, William Jackson III, is out of the league. Their second-round pick that year, Boyd, is a free agent.
Reader was a fifth-round pick of the Texans in that draft.
Rankins and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson were teammates at Louisville for one season.
When Rankins was a senior in 2015, Jackson started at quarterback for the Cardinals as a freshman.
Now Rankins will look to pressure and sack Jackson at least twice per season.
Rankins becomes the only current Bengal from UofL.
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who is Sheldon Rankins? Cincinnati DT, DJ Reader have a lot in common
