Sheldon Rankins

Houston Texans, Defensive Tackle

Age: 31y-11m-20d (Apr 02, 1994)

Exp: 10 Years

Country: US

College: Louisville

Drafted: Round 1 (#12 overall), 2016

Agent(s): Matthew Pope (Apex Sports Group)

2026 Cap Hit

$3,400,000

2026 Cash

$9,000,000

Career Earnings

$60,836,764

2026-2027 Extension (CURRENT)

Sheldon Rankins signed a 2 year, $17,000,000 contract with the Houston Texans, including $7,000,000 signing bonus, $12,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $8,500,000. In 2026, Rankins will earn a base salary of $1,500,000 and a signing bonus of $7,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $3,400,000 and a dead cap value of $12,000,000.

Contract Terms:

2 yr(s) / $17,000,000

Average Salary:

$8,500,000

Signing Bonus:

$7,000,000

GTD at Sign:

$12,000,000

Total GTD:

$12,000,000

Free Agent:

2028 / UFA

MANAGE CONTRACT

Year	Age	Status	Cap HitAnnual	Cap % League Cap	Cash Annual	Cash Cumulative	Dead Cap Annual
2026	32		$3,400,000	1.13%	$9,000,000	$9,000,000	$12,000,000
2027	33		$9,400,000	2.91%	$8,000,000	$17,000,000	$9,100,000
2028	34	Void UFA	$4,200,000	1.18%	-	$17,000,000	$4,200,000
2029		Void	-	-	-	$17,000,000	-
2030		Void	-	-	-	$17,000,000	-

Year	Age	Status	Base P5 Salary	Signing Proration	Active/GM Roster Bonus	Cap Hit	Cap % League	Dead Cap
2026	32		$1,500,000	$1,400,000	$500,000	$3,400,000	1.13%	$12,000,000	2026 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2026 Dead Cap: $12,000,000 2026 Savings: $-8,600,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2026 Dead Cap: $7,000,000 2026 Savings: $-3,600,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2026 Dead Cap: $6,400,000 2027 Dead Cap: $5,600,000 2026 Savings: $-3,000,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2026 Dead Cap: $6,400,000 2027 Dead Cap: $5,600,000 2026 Savings: $-3,000,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2026 Dead Cap: $1,400,000 2027 Dead Cap: $5,600,000 2026 Savings: $2,000,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2027	33		$7,500,000	$1,400,000	$500,000	$9,400,000	2.91%	$9,100,000	2027 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2027 Dead Cap: $9,100,000 2027 Savings: $300,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2027 Dead Cap: $5,600,000 2027 Savings: $3,800,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2027 Dead Cap: $4,900,000 2028 Dead Cap: $4,200,000 2027 Savings: $4,500,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2027 Dead Cap: $4,900,000 2028 Dead Cap: $4,200,000 2027 Savings: $4,500,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2027 Dead Cap: $1,400,000 2028 Dead Cap: $4,200,000 2027 Savings: $8,000,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2028	34	Void UFA	-	$1,400,000	-	$4,200,000	1.18%	$4,200,000	2028 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2028 Dead Cap: $4,200,000 2028 Savings: $0 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2028 Dead Cap: $4,200,000 2028 Savings: $0 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Dead Cap: $4,200,000 2028 Savings: $4,200,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Dead Cap: $4,200,000 2028 Savings: $4,200,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Dead Cap: $4,200,000 2028 Savings: $4,200,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2029		Void	-	$1,400,000	-	-	-	-	2029 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $0 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $0 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $0 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $0 POST-6/1 TRADE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $0 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2030		Void	-	$1,400,000	-	-	-	-	2030 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $0 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $0 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $0 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $0 POST-6/1 TRADE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $0 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.

Year	Age	Status	Base P5 Salary	Signing Bonus	Active/Gm Roster Bonus	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative	Cash Remaining
2026	32		$1,500,000	$7,000,000	$500,000	$9,000,000	$9,000,000	$17,000,000
2027	33		$7,500,000	-	$500,000	$8,000,000	$17,000,000	$8,000,000
2028	34	Void	-	-	-	-	$17,000,000	-
2029	35	Void	-	-	-	-	$17,000,000	-
2030	36	Void	-	-	-	-	$17,000,000	-

Contract Notes

$12M guaranteed (signing bonus + 2026 salary + $3.5M of 2027 salary)
Per Game Active Bonus: $29,411 ($500,000)
2028-2030 years automatically void

Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2025-2025 Free Agent

Contract Terms:

1 yr(s) / $5,250,000

Average Salary:

$5,250,000

Signing Bonus:

$3,000,000

GTD at Sign:

$4,500,000

Total GTD:

$4,500,000

Free Agent:

2026 / UFA

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2024-2025 Free Agent

Contract Terms:

2 yr(s) / $24,500,000

Average Salary:

$12,250,000

Signing Bonus:

N/A

GTD at Sign:

$8,000,000

Total GTD:

$8,000,000

Free Agent:

2026 / UFA

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2023-2023 Free Agent

Contract Terms:

1 yr(s) / $9,750,000

Average Salary:

$9,750,000

Signing Bonus:

$7,000,000

GTD at Sign:

$850,000

Total GTD:

$850,000

Free Agent:

2024 / UFA

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2021-2022 Free Agent

Contract Terms:

2 yr(s) / $11,000,000

Average Salary:

$5,500,000

Signing Bonus:

$1,500,000

GTD at Sign:

$4,500,000

Total GTD:

$6,000,000

Free Agent:

2023 / UFA

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2016-2020 Rookie

Contract Terms:

4 yr(s) / $12,801,648

Average Salary:

$3,200,412

Signing Bonus:

$7,510,289

GTD at Sign:

$12,801,648

Total GTD:

$12,801,648

Free Agent:

2021 / UFA

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Seasons

10 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$60,836,764

Earnings w/ Different Teams

4 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year	Age	Status	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative
2016	22	Active	$7,960,289	$7,960,289
2017	23	Active	$1,031,893	$8,992,182
2018	24	Injured	$1,613,786	$10,605,968
2019	25	Injured	$2,195,680	$12,801,648
2020	26	Active	$7,690,000	$20,491,648
2021	27	Active	$5,441,168	$25,932,816
2022	28	Active	$5,323,522	$31,256,338
2023	29	Active	$9,602,935	$40,859,273
2024	30	Reserve	$13,727,491	$54,586,764
2025	31	Active	$6,250,000	$60,836,764
Total			$60,836,764	$60,836,764
2026	32	Active	$9,000,000
2027	33	Active	$8,000,000
Total			$77,836,764

Earnings Per Team

Years	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Incentives	Cash Cumulative
5	$6,981,359	$7,510,289	-	$6,000,000	-	-	$20,491,648
2	$5,500,000	$1,500,000	$3,764,690	-	-	-	$10,764,690
2	$3,000,000	$10,000,000	-	-	-	$1,000,000	$15,852,935
1	$5,450,000	$4,000,000	$4,000,000	-	$50,000	$21,609	$13,727,491

Year	Age	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Workout	Incentives	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative
2016	22	$450,000	$7,510,289					$7,960,289	$7,960,289
2017	23	$1,031,893						$1,031,893	$8,992,182
2018	24	$1,613,786						$1,613,786	$10,605,968
2019	25	$2,195,680						$2,195,680	$12,801,648
2020	26	$1,690,000		$6,000,000				$7,690,000	$20,491,648
2021	27	$1,000,000	$1,500,000		$2,941,168			$5,441,168	$25,932,816
2022	28	$4,500,000			$823,522			$5,323,522	$31,256,338
2023	29	$1,500,000	$7,000,000					$9,602,935	$40,859,273
2024	30	$5,450,000	$4,000,000		$4,000,000	$50,000	$21,609	$13,727,491	$54,586,764
2025	31	$1,500,000	$3,000,000				$1,000,000	$6,250,000	$60,836,764
Total		$20,931,359	$23,010,289	$6,000,000	$7,764,690	$50,000	$1,021,609	$60,836,764	$60,836,764
2026	32	$1,500,000	$7,000,000					$9,000,000
2027	33	$7,500,000						$8,000,000
Total		$29,931,359	$30,010,289	$6,000,000	$7,764,690	$50,000	$1,021,609	$77,836,764

Earnings Per Team

Years	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Incentives	Cash Cumulative
5	$6,981,359	$7,510,289	-	$6,000,000	-	-	$20,491,648
2	$5,500,000	$1,500,000	$3,764,690	-	-	-	$10,764,690
2	$3,000,000	$10,000,000	-	-	-	$1,000,000	$15,852,935
1	$5,450,000	$4,000,000	$4,000,000	-	$50,000	$21,609	$13,727,491

Injuries

Year		Weeks	Reason
2024	CIN	18 - 18	Illness
2020	NO	9 - 12	Knee (MCL)
2019	NO	15 - 17	Ankle
2016	NO	1 - 8	Leg

Mar 09, 2026 Signed a 2 year $17 million contract extension with Houston (HOU)
Mar 10, 2025 Signed a 1 year $5.25 million contract with Houston (HOU)
Feb 21, 2025 Released by Cincinnati (CIN), freeing up $9.61M of cap
Mar 13, 2024 Signed a 2 year $24.5 million contract with Cincinnati (CIN)
Mar 15, 2023 Signed a 1 year $9.75 million contract with Houston (HOU)
Mar 21, 2021 Signed a 2 year $11 million contract with New York (NYJ)
Apr 24, 2019 New Orleans (NO) exercised a $7.69 million option for 2020
May 09, 2016 Signed a 4 year $12.8 million contract with New Orleans (NO)
Apr 28, 2016 Drafted by New Orleans (NO): Round 1 (#12 overall)

Year	Team	GP	GS	Snaps	Snaps%	Sack	Tackles Total	Tackles Solo	Tackles Assisted	FFum	Int
2025	HOU	17	17	623	53.71	3	35	15	20	0	0
2024	CIN	7	7	288	25.37	1	18	10	8	0	0
2023	HOU	15	15	597	52.60	6	37	29	8	1	0
2022	NYJ	15	15	558	50.23	3	43	25	18	1	0
2021	NYJ	16	3	640	58.99	3	32	15	17	0	0
2020	NO	12	1	415	38.57	2	20	13	7	0	0
2019	NO	10	0	329	30.40	2	9	7	2	0	0
2018	NO	16	16	641	63.40	8	41	26	15	1	0
2017	NO	16	16	812	76.60	2	26	16	10	1	1
2016	NO	9	0	336	32.00	4	20	15	5	1	0

Calculated Market Value

$7.5M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

1 years, $7,517,208
Avg. Salary: $7,517,208
NFL Rank: 362

Current Contract

Free Agent: 2028
Avg. Salary: $8,500,000
NFL Rank: 332

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Sheldon Rankins to.

Player	Length	Value	Avg. Salary	Age When Signed
Mario Edwards	2	$9,500,000	$4,750,000	31
Poona Ford	3	$27,600,000	$9,200,000	29
James Smith-Williams	1	$1,292,500	$1,292,500	26
DeShawn Williams	1	$1,125,000	$1,125,000	31
Averages	2	$9,879,375	$4,091,875	29.3

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Rankins's current age (31), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length	Value	Avg. Salary
2	$13,895,666	$6,947,833

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Rankins statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GP%, Snaps %, Tackles/Gm, Sacks/Gm, Stops/Gm, QB Hurries/Gm, Rating

Player	GP%	Snaps %	Tackles/Gm	Sacks/Gm	Stops/Gm	QB Hurries/Gm	Rating
Mario Edwards 2023-2024	82.35	37.50	0.96	0.18	0.93	1.11	62.30
Poona Ford 2023-2024	76.47	35.35	1.12	0.15	1.04	0.76	72.20
James Smith-Williams 2022-2023	79.41	42.15	0.85	0.15	0.81	1.00	59.80
DeShawn Williams 2022-2023	97.06	47.15	1.03	0.17	1.06	0.58	52.70
Average	83.82	40.54	0.99	0.16	0.96	0.86	61.75
Sheldon Rankins 2024-2025	70.59	39.52	1.04	0.17	1.17	1.38	64.25
Pct Change	-15.78	-2.52	5.05	6.25	21.88	60.47	4.05
Median Prime % Change							5.05%
Average Prime % Change							11.34%

Calculated Market Value: Sheldon Rankins

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms	Avg. Salary
1 years, $7,517,208	$7,517,208

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