The Cincinnati Bengals made the signing of defneive lineman Sheldon Rankins official on Monday after a quiet stretch for the team in free agency.
Cincinnati signing Rankins to the big contract was reported last week.
Rankins was the subject of a reported bidding war the Bengals won as the team was losing DJ Reader to the open market and the Detroit Lions.
The new star defensive lineman will pair with B.J. Hill as an interior pass-rusher and alongside whoever the team elects to bring in via free agency or the draft as a nose tackle.
An obvious fit and solution to the team’s lack of pass-rush last year, Rankins’ reported deal worth $26 million over two years speaks to the way he fits into Lou Anarumo’s plans for the defense.
