Should the Redskins Still Consider Adding Johnathan Hankins?

Johnathan Hankins is still a free agent...

Hankins visited the Redskins in mid March, but left without a contract. It was reported that he and his agent were seeking a multi-year deal with an average annual salary of 8 million dollars. According to John Keim, the Redskins were only offering a one-year deal.

Hankins went on to visit the Lions and Jets, but no deal was reached with either team. The NFL Draft came and went, and Hankins remains unsigned.

Meanwhile, the Redskins went about their business of building through the draft, and fixing their porous run defense by nabbing Alabama defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne in the first round, and then double-dipping in the fifth round with their selection of local product Tim Settle from Virginia Tech. That duo, combined with last years starters Jonathan Allen and Matt Ioannidis, give the Redskins an outstanding young nucleolus to build around.

Still, given the rash of injuries that the team suffered on the defensive line last year, talent and depth can not be overlooked.

The team has recently moved on from Terrell McClain, who was a huge disappointment as a free agent addition from Dallas last offseason. If the front office and coaching staff were to be in agreement about bringing the 26 year old Hankins in on a one year deal, the Skins could release Stacy McGee as a post June 1st cut, and save $4 million against the cap for 2018. That $4 million could be put towards the salary of Hankins for this season, which would be money well spent.

If Hankins were brought in, we could be looking at a rotation like this:

First Team:

DT - Jonathan Allen

NT - Da’Ron Payne/Johnathan Hankins

DT - Johnathan Hankins/Da’Ron Payne

Second Team:

DT - Matt Ioannidis

NT - Tim Settle

DT - Anthony Lanier

If Hankins were signed, it would not take anything away from our young, developmental prospects. He would basically be a replacement for McGee, and at just 26, certainly a guy we could extend beyond 2018. His arrival could not only strengthen the defensive front, but it would allow for excellent rotational depth and a great contingency plan if injuries were to hit the unit again.