Feb. 21 (UPI) — The Cincinnati Bengals released veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, clearing nearly $10 million in salary cap space, the team said Friday.
Rankins, 30, started seven games last season. He totaled 18 combined tackles and a sack. The 6-foot-2, 305-pound defensive lineman missed nine games because of injuries and illness.
Rankins signed a two-year, $24.5 million pact with the Bengals last off-season. He was to receive a roster bonus March 17. The Bengals cleared about $9.6 million off their salary cap, but incurred a dead money hit of $2 million against the cap by releasing Rankins.
The Bengals have about $61.9 million in salary cap space, based on an estimated new league salary cap of $279.5 million, according to OverTheCap.com. That total ranks as the eighth-most in the NFL.
League sources told UPI on Wednesday that the NFL salary cap will increase to between $277.5 million and $281.5 million in 2025. The league instituted a $255.4 million salary cap in 2024.
Defensive tackle B.J. Hill, cornerback, Mike Hilton, offensive tackle Trent Brown and linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither are among the Bengals players set to become unrestricted free agents.
The Bengals are expected to use a non-exclusive franchise tag on wide receiver Tee Higgins, who also was to hit free agency.
