The Houston Texans were one of the more active teams ahead of the 2026 offseason and the start of free agency with the legal tampering period, and their latest deal–with Sheldon Rankins–continues that trend.
Rankins spent his second season with the Texans in 2025, but it was non-consecutive.
He was also with the team in 2023, joining the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent in 2024. He returns to a defense led by its pass rush and secondary, but that is still reliant on the tackles.
Texans Bring Back Sheldon Rankins
GettySheldon Rankins #90 of the Houston Texans returns a fumble for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs.
“The #Texans and DT Sheldon Rankins have agreed to a new two-year deal that includes $12 million guaranteed for him to return to Houston,” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported on X on March 9.
“Rankins remains a key part of a dominant defensive front via a deal done by Matthew Pope and Bill Johnson of @ApexSportsGroup.”
Rankins had earned $60.8 million in his career before this new deal.
He was coming off a one-year, $6.2 million contract with the Texans. Spotrac projected Rankins’ market value at a one-year, $7.5 million pact. Rankins beat that projection, and a one-year, $5.2 million projection from The Athletic’s Daniel Poppoer, by a wide margin.
He was Popper’s 122nd-best free agent on the market overall and the
“Rankins is a physical interior rusher who delivers heavy punches to the chests of interior linemen, creating movement by either pushing the pocket or winning outright,” Popper wrote in February. “He was a good fit in Houston’s defense with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter at edge rusher. Rankins is not particularly stout as a run defender, and he can get driven off the ball by double-teams. He fits best as a situational interior rusher.”
Rankins logged 35 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery while starting all 17 regular-season games for the Texans in 2025.
He added another 6 total stops, 1.5 sacks, and returned a fumble for a TD in the playoffs.
Texans’ Decision Expected to Make All-Pro Happy
GettyHouston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, Sheldon Rankins #90, and Azeez Al-Shaair #0 celebrate their 36-29 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Rankins’ return to the Texans was well-received. Several media members have remarked on the value that he brings to the table for Houston.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport called Rankins a “key piece” returning for the Texans. Rankins, who turns 32 in April, was the 12th overall pick of the 2016 draft by the New Orleans Saints, with whom he spent the first five seasons of his career.
After a two-year stint with the New York Jets, Rankins signed with the Texans in 2023.
He has started all 32 games that he has played for the Texans. ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime noted the veteran’s stalwart status. But Rankins’ return to the locker room is key, too.
“Sheldon Rankins’ deal, two years, which includes $12 million guaranteed, will make #Texans star defensive end Will Anderson Jr. extremely happy,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson posted on X on March 9. “Rankins has been a great mentor and friend to Anderson since his rookie year.
Notably, Anderson, a First Team All-Pro in 2025, is extension-eligible this offseason.
Paying Rankings does not impact Anderson’s highly anticipated negotiations directly. It does mean the star EDGE knows his friend is still his teammate.
Texans Agree to Deal With Former Saints First-Round Draft Pick