Adios.
The Cincinnati Bengals have made their first major roster decision.
On Friday, the team announced that they had released veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. He was signed in the 2024 offseason to a two-year, $26 million deal.
A 10th-year player in 2025, Rankins played in seven games (all starts) for the Bengals last season. However, he missed much of the season due to injury and illness, so this was an easy decision for the Bengals to make ahead of NFL free agency in March.
By cutting Rankins, the Bengals save $9,617,647 and will be on the hook for $2 million in dead cap, according to Over the Cap. It was a no-brainer he’d eventually be released, even if it does leave lingering concerns over the future of the defensive tackle position in Cincinnati.
Fellow starter B.J. Hill is also hitting free agency, so expect there to be several additions made here through free agency and/or the 2025 NFL Draft.
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