NY Jets: 3 best value signings of the 2021 offseason

3. Sheldon Rankins, DT, NY Jets

The Jets went into the offseason with a variety of needs, but one position that seemed relatively set was the interior defensive line.

Quinnen Williams enjoyed a breakout season in 2020 and alongside him were standout run-stuffer Folorunso Fatukasi and surging former waiver claim John Franklin-Myers.

Despite this, the Jets addressed the position anyway landing a former first-round defensive tackle at a relative bargain of a price.

Sheldon Rankins was signed to a two-year, $11 million contract in the offseason after spending the first five years of his NFL career in New Orleans.

Rankins looked well on his way to becoming one of the better pass-rushing defensive tackles in football following an eight-sack campaign in 2018. However, injuries have stunted his career a bit.

The Saints wanted to bring him back, but a tricky cap situation left Rankins ripe for the picking. And if the former Louisville star could regain his 2018 form now that he's healthy, the Jets might have landed one of the steals of free agency.

What makes this move even better is the structure of the contract — it's essentially a one-year, $5.5 million contract with a $5.5 million second-year option.

The Jets could cut ties with Rankins after one season with less than $1 million in dead cap if he fails to live up to his deal.

Rankins is a good player with a Pro Bowl ceiling if he could stay healthy. This is a classic low-risk/high-reward signing.