BREAKING: Bengals Outbid Texans to land Top Star in Defensive Tackle Position Deal worth $26 million

The Bengals were in dire need of assistance at the defensive tackle position, so they made a significant investment to acquire Sheldon Rankins.

In 2023, the Cincinnati Bengals faced challenges within their interior defense, particularly when relying on players other than DJ Reader and BJ Hill.

While Reader and Hill were on the field, the defensive line showed solid performance. However, the team struggled when substitute players entered the game, often allowing opponents to exploit the middle area easily. Despite Reader’s departure, the Bengals remain focused on enhancing their interior defense by bringing in Sheldon Rankins.

Not only did the team acquire Rankins, but they also reportedly emerged victorious in a competitive bid against the Texans.

As per Aaron Wilson, the Texans pushed the bidding up to twelve million per year, but the Bengals eventually secured Rankins with a two-year, twenty-six million dollar offer.

#Texans negotiated with Sheldon Rankins and offered $12 million annually, per sources, before he ultimately reached two-year, $26 million deal with #Bengals following a six-sack season for AFC South champions @KPRC2 https://t.co/PzRA9ZUvf2

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 14, 2024

The Cincinnati Bengals’ pass rush is expected to see significant improvement with the addition of Rankins, a standout player known for his effectiveness as an interior lineman in that aspect. While there is still a need to enhance depth, the Bengals proactively targeted and filled the gap in free agency, recognizing the deficiency in their lineup.

It is hoped that the team will continue strengthening the interior of their defensive line by making further acquisitions. Whether these additions will come from free agency or the NFL Draft is yet to be determined.