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Why the Redskins should still have Johnathan Hankins on their radar

By Desmond Lee

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 17: Johnathan Hankins #95 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates after a tackle against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 17, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 17: Johnathan Hankins #95 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates after a tackle against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 17, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 05: Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins #95 of the New York Giants celebrates after sacking quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter of their game at MetLife Stadium on October 5, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 05: Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins #95 of the New York Giants celebrates after sacking quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter of their game at MetLife Stadium on October 5, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Hankins has produced during his brief career

The New York Giants drafted Hankins in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, and quickly installed him as a starter after incumbent Linval Joseph left the team in 2014. Although Hankins served as a competent replacement for Joseph, Hankins was the odd man out when his rookie deal expired in 2016.

That was because the Giants had struck two blockbuster deals that year with Damon Harrison and Olivier Vernon, both of whom contributed to a defensive unit that had witnessed a complete reversal of fortune from the year before. During that offseason, New York was faced with paying out another rich, long term contract either to Hankins or Jason Pierre-Paul.

The team offered Pierre-Paul a lucrative four-year deal worth $62 million, with $40 million in guarantees, and thus let Hankins test free agency. Hankins then signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Colts. Despite being ranked by Pro Football Focus as the 20th best interior lineman last year, per Sean Wagner-McGough of CBS Sports, which was one spot of ahead of Leonard Williams, the Colts released him because his forte as a run-stopping defensive tackle somehow didn’t fit the new Colts’ upfield rushing system.

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