Raiders Free Agent Targets: Sheldon Rankins

Versatile run stopper Sheldon Rankins could help the Las Vegas Raiders on the interior.

Free agency is approaching fast, and the Las Vegas Raiders are looking for ways to improve their team by adding talent from around the league.

The Raiders currently have the fifth-most cap space in the NFL, just south of $40 million. They can use that money in many ways, but one area they need to upgrade is their interior defensive line.

The Raiders need to find players who can help them stop the run and create pressure on the defensive line. New York Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins is one player who can do just that.

Rankins has been in the league for a couple of years, and no matter who he has played for has been good at stopping the run. Let’s look at Rankins and see if he would be a good fit in the Silver and Black.

Rankins was drafted with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints out of Louisville. He missed a good portion of his rookie season because of a broken leg. Rankins spent five years in New Orleans, totaling 116 tackles, 25 tackles for losses and 17.5 sacks.

After the Saints decided not to re-sign Rankins, he joined the Jets on a two-year contract. During his time in New York, Rankins posted 75 tackles, nine tackles for losses and six sacks.

Rankins possesses the necessary size to be a great run-stopping defensive lineman, standing at 6-2 and weighing 305 pounds. He is a big body who can play anywhere on the defensive line, but mostly plays as a 3-technique defensive tackle.

Rankins sustained a couple of of significant injuries in his career, including the broken leg in his rookie season and an Achilles tear in 2019. He also is approaching 30 years old, so a multi-year contract might not be in his future.

Rankins can anchor a defensive line with his ability to stop the run and get to the quarterback. He is the type of player defensive coordinator Patrick Graham covets on the interior, and the type of player General Manager Dave Ziegler could take a chance on bringing in.

If the Raiders want to add a big run-stuffer up front, Sheldon Rankins could be their guy. 

The 2023 NFL Draft will go from April 27-29 and be held at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo. On March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST, is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. During that time, starting at 12 p.m. EDT on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EDT on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m EDT on March 15.

The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.

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