NFL’s New York teams sign defensive players

The National Football League’s two New York franchises each made big splashes in free agency this week when it came to defensive players. On Sunday, the New York Jets signed defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to a two-year deal worth $17 million, and on Monday, the New York Giants signed cornerback Adoree’ Jackson to a three-year deal worth $39 million according to Rogers Sportsnet. 

Rankins, a native of Covington, Georgia, has spent the last five seasons with the New Orleans Saints. Last season he played 12 games and had 20 combined tackles (13 solo tackles and seven assisted tackles), nine quarterback hits, three tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and one pass deflection.

In Rankins’s career, he has 116 combined tackles (77 solo tackles and 39 assisted tackles), 44 quarterback hits, 25 tackles for a loss, 17.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three pass deflections, and one interception. Rankins’s interception for 27 yards came on November 12, 2017, in a dominant 47-10 Saints win over the Buffalo Bills.

Jackson, a native of Bellevill, Illinois, has spent the last four seasons with the Tennessee Titans. In 2020, he only played in three games because of a knee injury. He had 12 combined tackles (nine solo tackles and three assisted tackles). For his career in 46 games, Jackson has had 200 combined tackles (176 solo tackles and 24 assisted tackles), six tackles for a loss, two interceptions for seven yards, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

This past week the Giants made a big splash in free agency when it came to their offense. They signed wide receiver Kenny Golladay from the Detroit Lions to a four-year deal worth $72 million.

There was a third key defensive signing in the NFL over the last five days. On Saturday, the Denver Broncos signed cornerback Kyle Fuller to a one-year contract worth $9.5 million. Fuller has spent the last six seasons with the Chicago Bears and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, he had 65 combined tackles (52 solo tackles and 13 assisted tackles), one interception for five yards, eight pass deflections, and one forced fumble.

For his career, Fuller has 390 combined tackles (328 solo tackles and 62 assisted tackles), six tackles for a loss, four forced fumbles, 19 interceptions for 199 yards, and 82 pass deflections. In 2018, he led the NFL with 21 pass deflections and seven interceptions.

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