Why the Redskins should still have Johnathan Hankins on their radar
By Desmond Lee
Signing Hankins now is Nearly guilt free
As training camp approaches, Hankins has but few good employment options for the upcoming year, much less ones that would yield a contract on terms he was pursuing earlier this offseason. That’s because most teams have little cap space to accommodate those contract demands at this juncture of free agency. The only realistic deal Hankins would agree to now is a one-year, prove-it contract he could use as a stepping stone to a larger one in 2019.
Why shouldn’t the Redskins take advantage of this? Do they believe that adding Hankins would disrupt chemistry established in that unit or steepen the learning curve for their recent draft choices? Whatever the case may be, and for as much hope that the team holds out for its developing draft picks, there is an equal amount of, if not more, questions than answers surrounding those young players.
Hankins, to be sure, isn’t a transcendent talent that would dramatically upgrade the team’s defensive line. But he would bring stability to a group short on experience and veteran talent, and supply it with a productive known commodity they have not had for years. While it’s uncertain precisely why the club has ceased its pursuit of Hankins, there’s very little downside in considering signing him now.
And if the Redskins believe they’re satisfied with their defensive linemen now, they should always remember that you can’t have enough good ones.
Next: Redskins Training Camp Profile: WR Josh Doctson
That worked well for Philadelphia in 2017. And it would certainly do the same for Washington, who can start by considering whether Hankins would be a fit now.