HOUSTON – The Texans are running it back with veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, holding onto a key piece of their top-ranked defense.
Rankins is staying in Houston on a two-year contract that includes $12 million total guaranteed, a portion of a larger overall structure, per league sources.
The deal negotiated by Matthew Pope and Bill Johnson allows Rankins to stay with the Texans and continue to provide a disruptive interior presence’. This deal will make Texans star defensive end Will Anderson Jr. extremely happy. Anderson and Rankins are good friends and the former New Orleans Saints first-round draft pick has mentored Anderson since his rookie year.
Rankins, 31, had a resurgent year in his return to the Texans last year after dealing with meningitis during his one season with the Cincinnati Bengals.
He played in every game during a healthy season, recording 35 tackles, 44 pressures, three sacks, five tackles for losses and scored two touchdowns.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
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