Former NY Jets starter could return in free agency after latest Bengals’ decision
The Jets could reunite with this former starter.
The NY Jets may have some new sheriffs in town in head coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey, but this tandem is not going to win a ton of games unless they fix some of the biggest issues that Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh found themselves to be incapable of patching up.
Getting Quinnen Williams a run-stuffing running mate at defensive tackle could be the top priority for the Jets this offseason, be it through the NFL Draft or free agency. The Jets may end up bringing back an old friend after his most recent employer decided to make him a cap casualty.
Former Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, who recently signed a multi-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, was released in a move that will save around $9 million in cap space. Rankins only played seven games with Cincinnati due to injuries, which could limit his suitors in the offseason.
Rankins still has plenty of juice left in the tank, and he has proven to be a very productive player when healthy. One of the first signings of the Glenn era could be a Saleh-like addition of an aggressive player with experience and versatility on the line.
NY Jets may need to bring back Sheldon Rankins after Bengals release
Rankins doesn’t necessarily need to be the first option, as there are higher-upside options like Mason Graham in the NFL Draft and DJ Jones in the free agent pool. However, if New York wants to allocate their cap space elsewhere, they could bring back Rankins on a cheaper contract.
