Cleveland Browns: 3 Players to replace Larry Ogunjobi

2. Sheldon Rankins

There was a time when Sheldon Rankins was one of the hottest names in the NFL. A former No. 12 overall pick out of Louisville, Rankins was a force on the interior of the New Orleans Saints line.

As a rookie, he missed seven games but still generated four sacks in nine appearances. He then became a full-time starter and by his third season, he was one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the NFL. He finished that season with 40 tackles and eight sacks, but then tore his Achilles in the playoffs.

He ended up having surgery on his other Achilles the following year and while he played 10 games in 2019 and 12 in 2020, he wasn’t nearly as effective. Now a free agent, Rankins says he’s back to himself with more than a year behind his last Achilles operation.

"“Now, I legit wake up and feel like me again,” Rankins said via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “I can run around and have that bounce in my step that I know I used to have. That’s exciting for me. Going into free agency, that’s why it’s exciting for me, because I know that no matter where I end up, you can cut that 2018 tape on and say that’s the guy you’re getting.”"

Even with his words of affirmation, Rankins is a player some teams could be wary of since he’s had the injury issues. That could play into the hands of Cleveland GM Andrew Berry, who could try and lure him to the Browns on a one-year ‘prove-it- deal. Landing a player who has a lot of talent — and even more to prove — could be beneficial, even if it only proves to be a one-year rental.