The Cincinnati Bengals I haven't seen much of a return on investment since Sheldon Rankins arrived this year.
Rankins arrived last offseason at a two-year, and has appeared in just seven games, earning one Note included.
Well, analysts like Bleacher Report have looked into the future of the Bengals and suggested Rankins as a cut candidate:
The Bengals let DJ Reader leave in free agency and then signed Sheldon Rankins to a two-year, $24.5 million contract. This has proven to be a major source of disappointment.
The 30-year-old simply doesn't hold up to the attack like Reader does, and that has an impact on the defensive line.
The Bengals' parting ways with Rankins would save $9.5 million in cap space next offseason. Given the abundance of money the franchise will need to pay Ja'Marr Chase and continue to rebuild the struggling defense, it's reasonable to assume that this option is on the table.
Beyond the money side, rookies Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson have shown serious ideas as long-term solutions at center. It might make sense to give them more playing time next offseason and increase the depth of veterans and/or rookies.
That's true, of course, unless Rankins turns things around. But he was the big addition to a rotation that was supposed to counteract the loss of DJ Reader, and that just didn't happen.
