Jacksonville Jaguars: Does it make sense to pursue these 3 free agents?
This one will give the Jacksonville Jaguars something to think about.
There’s no doubt the Jaguars need to beef up their defensive line and Benjamin Solak believes they should take a flyer on defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, who has dealt with injuries in the last two seasons but is still talented.
Solak acknowledges that Rankins’ last good season came in 2018, when he logged 40 total tackles (12 for a loss), eight sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception. However, he still thinks the Louisville standout can be a productive player.
If the Jaguars want to sign Rankins, they should give him a one-year, prove-it deal. Anything longer than that would be risky, as he’s missed eight contests with injury and has just one start in the last two seasons after starting 32 consecutive games from 2017 to 2018. Also, if Jacksonville ends up signing Rankins, they would still have enough money to add another defensive tackle in the open market such as Shelby Harris or Larry Ogunjobi.
Adding Rankins only makes sense if the Jags bring in another defensive tackle but if they really want to bolster the position, they should use the 25th overall selection in this year’s draft on Alabama’s Christian Barmore instead. Rankins could be a cheap acquisition in free agency, but that may not matter if he can’t stay on the field. The Jaguars need to think this one through.