Rankins, who can earn up to $7 million on this deal, spent the 2023 season with the Texans, where he totaled 37 tackles and six sacks while also notching nine TFLs. Last season, Rankins joined the Bengals on a two-year deal, but an injury-filled season limited him to just seven games and led to him being released by season’s end. Now back with the Texans, Rankins will hope he can replicate one of the better years of his career in DeMeco Ryans’ defense.

Rankins was with the Texans in 2023 and Houston lost a bidding war with the Bengals in the 2024 offseason to bring him back. After being released by the Bengals following a disappointing 2024 season where he was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list, it appears the Texans believe the veteran still has something left entering his age-31 season. Wilson reports that Rankins has interest from “multiple NFL teams” and thus, he may get a real contract.

Following a disappointing 2024 season, the Bengals have opted to part ways with Rankins. After signing a two-year, $24.5 million contract last offseason, multiple injuries and an illness limited Rankins to just seven games (all starts) of action. Per Over the Cap, the move will save the Bengals $9.6 million against the salary cap. Rankins, who turns 31 in April, was drafted in the first round by the Saints in 2016 and has also spent time with the Texans and Jets. He’s recorded 30.5 career sacks during his nine NFL seasons, and should still have something to offer a roster in need of depth along the d-line.

He’ll miss at least the next four games. Rankins has been listed as out with an illness for several weeks, he hasn’t practiced since Week 11. Hopefully whatever Rankins has isn’t as serious as that makes it sound, but his first year with the Bengals was brought to an abrupt halt thanks to the injury. He finishes the regular season with seven starts, one sack, and 10 solo tackles.