Tag: Sheldon Rankins

12 NFL free agents with ties to the new Lions regime that should interest Detroit

Here are some choice unrestricted free agents with ties to the new Lions regime

Detroit’s radical franchise overhaul to the front office and coaching staff gives the Lions a rare chance to remake the roster, too. The new faces in charge of personnel decisions have different ties to different NFL teams they can exploit this offseason to help in the remake, too.

The Brad Holmes/Dan Campbell regime has direct recent ties to four NFL teams. Holmes, the new GM, comes from the Los Angeles Rams. So does assistant GM Ray Agnew.

New head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn both worked for the New Orleans Saints for several seasons together before coming to Detroit.

Senior personal executive John Dorsey was the GM of the Cleveland Browns in 2018-2019 before serving as a consultant in 2020. New offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn was the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers for the last four seasons.

That’s some pretty intimate familiarity and personal ties to four other NFL organizations who will have players leaving this offseason. Here are some choice unrestricted free agents from those teams and how they might be appealing to the amalgamation of the new regime in Detroit.

4 potential 2021 Free Agents the Lions should be watching during Sunday’s Divisional Playoff games

Identifying four potential 2021 Free Agents the Detroit Lions should be watching during Sunday’s Divisional Playoff games.

The Detroit Lions have hired Brad Holmes as their next general manager, and depending on how today’s games play out, their head coach situation — Dan Campbell is the favorite — could be decided on in the next few days.

As the Lions work towards establishing a new culture and staff, the NFL continues to roll on and Detroit’s scouting department needs to be working today, taking notes on the NFL playoffs.

Sunday’s Divisional Playoff games will feature the Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs (3:05 pm EST on CBS), followed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints (6:40 EST on FOX).

Here are four potential 2021 Free Agents — one from each team — that the Lions should be watching during today’s games.

Browns: Rashard Higgins, WR (6-1, 198)

Higgins is coming off his best year as a pro, often stepping up for the Browns when given the opportunity. With Odell Beckham on injured reserve, Higgins has found himself in the starting lineup, but with Beckham, Jarvis Landry, and rookie Donovan Peoples-Jones under contract next year Higgins may be looking for opportunities elsewhere this offseason.

A deep threat that often finds ways to get open, Higgins (26 years old) is an intriguing option for the Lions. If they get Kenny Golladay under contract and plan on leaning on a rookie or Quintez Cephus — or both — for heavy contributions in 2021, Higgins would offer the Lions a veteran option at an affordable price.

Previously profiled for the Browns: Larry Ogunjobi, DT

Chiefs: Bashaud Breeland, CB (5-11, 195)

As discussed in yesterday’s free agent preview, the Lions could be in the market for a veteran third corner who can spot start on the outside behind Amani Oruwariye and Jeff Okudah, as Demond Trufant and Justin Coleman’s roster status is potentially in jeopardy due to their expensive contracts.

While Breeland would be a less expensive option there is a more inconsistent level of play and some off the field concerns that come with it — he was suspended four games this year after a substance abuse related arrest.

Bucs: Ndamukong Suh, DT (6-4, 313)

Okay, hear me out.

At 34 years old, Suh is not the dominator he once was, but he is still plenty impactful at a position the Lions need help upgrading. The price tag has come way down from his last stint in Detroit, and with ties to the city — he still owns businesses and property in Michigan — he could entertain returning to the team who drafted him.

Previously profiled for Bucs: Shaquil Barrett, EDGE

Saints: Sheldon Rankins, DT (6-2, 305)

The former 12th overall pick in the 2016 draft, Rankins’ career was ascending when a 2019 Achillies injury stole his momentum. While he is still presenting some lingering effects from the injury, he showed he still enough potential to pay attention to — especially in last week’s playoff game against Chicago.

Because of the Achilles injury, Rankins’ comes with some risks, but that will also likely drive his price tag down. Even with the reduced rate, the Saints won’t be in a position to afford him this offseason as they are very much up against the cap.

Previously profiled for the Saints: Marcus Williams, S

4 possible 2021 free agents the Texans should be watching during NFL divisional playoffs

The Houston Texans need to retool in 2021. Here are four possible free agents playing during NFL divisional weekend that they should scout.

The Houston Texans need to revamp their roster in 2021 if they hope to return to the playoffs.

Here are four potential free agents playing during the NFL divisional playoffs the club needs to keep an eye on.

Saints allowed fewest yards, first downs, and points in team playoff history vs. Bears

The New Orleans Saints defense allowed the fewest total yards, first downs, and points scored in team playoff history to the Chicago Bears.

[jwplayer Soz3iCmf-ThvAeFxT]

What a day it was for the New Orleans Saints defense. They yielded the fewest total yards (239), first downs (11), and points (9) in the team’s playoff history during their Wild-Card Round win over the Chicago Bears, setting a high bar for themselves in the postseason tournament.

Their previous-bests included 250 total yards and 14 points allowed to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019, and just 14 first downs to the Seattle Seahawks in 2014. The Saints offense came through with a win over the Eagles that year, while the Seahawks managed to stay ahead.

Several standout performances paved the way for New Orleans against Chicago, like a team-leading 8 combined tackles (6 solo) from safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and several quarterback pressures by defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, whose third quarter sack of Mitchell Trubisky pushed the Bears out of field goal range while down 7-3.

But consistency is key for the Saints defense, and they proved that again by squashing the Chicago run game and forcing Trubisky into more pass attempts than Bears fans are probably comfortable watching. Let’s see if they can keep up the pressure next week with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

[vertical-gallery id=42386]

Saints roll out a long list of roster moves before Week 13 Falcons rematch

The New Orleans Saints added Sheldon Rankins and reported seven different roster moves before their Week 13 rematch with the Atlanta Falcons

We’re in a tight spot. The New Orleans Saints put the finishing touches on their roster for Week 13’s game with the Atlanta Falcons by reporting seven different roster moves on the NFL daily transactions wire, moving players to and from the active roster, practice squad, and injured reserve list. All of this movement isn’t necessarily what you want to see late in the season, especially with franchise quarterback Drew Brees out of action, but here we are.

New Orleans was already shorthanded due to offensive linemen Terron Armstead, their starting left tackle, and Derrick Kelly, a second-year backup, sequestered on the COVID-19 reserve list. Tack on four absences for injuries and the loss of rookie receiver Marquez Callaway to injured reserve and, well, you get this lengthy list of transactions. Let’s start at the top:

Sheldon Rankins activated from Saints’ injured reserve

The New Orleans Saints activated defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins from injured reserve, making him eligible to play against the Falcons.

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”i6EDaORA7o-1060532-7498″]

The New Orleans Saints defensive line got a big boost on Saturday with the return of Sheldon Rankins, who returned from injured reserve and will be eligible to dress out for Sunday’s matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. Rankins had missed four games after exiting Week 8’s meeting with the Chicago Bears with a knee injury, but he’s since been able to practice and is now ready to shimmy.

Rankins, 26, is nearing the end of a contract year in New Orleans and is looking to close out the season on a high note. While a series of leg injuries have limited his availability through the first five years of his Saints career, Rankins remains one of their most effective interior pass rushers.

Before landing on injured reserve, he was right there with defensive tackle David Onyemata in quarterback pressures (13, to Onyemata’s 14) through the first 8 weeks of the season, per Pro Football Focus. His PFF pass rush productivity rating of 5.8 was also close to Onyemata’s 6.0. So the pair should remain a formidable duo inside next to nose tackle Malcom Brown.

[vertical-gallery id=40986]

Saints designate Sheldon Rankins to return from injured reserve

The New Orleans Saints designated defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to return from the injured reserve list after missing 3 weeks with a knee

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”b8AfKDXMO9-1049355-7498″]

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is on his way back from the injured reserve list, as first reported by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill. Underhill reported after the Nov. 1 Chicago Bears game in which Rankins was injured that he would miss about three weeks, and that’s been the case.

After landing on I.R. back on Nov. 6, Rankins was designated to return on Nov. 25 after sitting out games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, and Atlanta Falcons. The NFL tweaked injured reserve rules for the 2020 season due to expected COVID-19 absences, allowing teams to send players to and from I.R. as often as needed so long as they spend at least three weeks on reserve, and the Saints have again benefited from the rules change.

If Rankins is able to practice this week, he should be ready to suit up for a Week 12 road game with the Denver Broncos on Nov. 29. The big defensive tackle ranked among Saints leaders in quarterback pressures created (13 in his first 7 games) before going down with a knee injury, and he could be a big boost to a Saints interior line rotation that’s been effective in recent weeks.

New Orleans has mixed and matched backups like Shy Tuttle (17.3 snaps per game), Malcolm Roach (24 snaps per game), and Ryan Glasgow (14 snaps per game) during Rankins’ absence behind starters David Onyemata and Malcom Brown. Glasgow replaced Roach (a healthy scratch) on the gameday roster for last week’s game with the Falcons just five days after being signed to the practice squad, so the Saints are obviously looking for improvement up front.

But Rankins has to prove he’s fully healthy first. Here’s hoping for good news on the Saints injury report this week.

[vertical-gallery id=40707]

The Athletic lists 4 Saints free agents among top names to watch in 2021

New Orleans Saints 2021 free agents like Trey Hendrickson and Marcus Williams were listed by the Athletic’s Shiel Kapadia as names to watch.

Which New Orleans Saints free agents will get re-signed in the offseason? Who could be on the radar for other teams looking to poach them in 2021? The Athletic’s Shiel Kapadia listed 50 of the biggest names on track to test the market, and a couple of Saints starters made the cut — with some of their teammates also worth considering. Here’s who might be on the move in the spring:

Stay or go? Looking ahead to Saints’ pending 2021 free agents

Trey Hendrickson has seized his opportunity with the New Orleans Saints, but other pending 2021 free agents must step up to get re-signed.

Which free agents should the New Orleans Saints re-sign in 2021? There are a number of hurdles ahead of them before it’s time to make those decisions, like finishing out the 2020 season and navigating the lowered 2021 salary cap. It could result in some cap casualties, which muddies the situation for players whose contracts are expiring.

Still, here’s our take on who should stay or go at this point in the season:

Saints announce a series of roster moves, send Sheldon Rankins to I.R.

The New Orleans Saints sent DT Sheldon Rankins and CB Justin Hardee to injured reserve after practice, and activated RB Ty Montgomery.

The New Orleans Saints completed a few routine roster moves on Friday after practice, designating two players to the injured reserve list while activating a third from it. Here’s what you need to know about each transaction: