FRISCO, Texas — The good times continue to roll for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, having balanced major free agency signings, including trading for Stephon Gilmore and Brandin Cooks, along with securing high-priority inside free agents like Donovan Wilson, Leighton Vander Esch and Dante Fowler.
And now you can add Johnathan Hankins to the list.
Hankins and the Cowboys have agreed to terms on a new deal that will keep the veteran run-blocking blocker in place to block the inside lanes of Dallas’ defensive line, another key March signing.
The 6-foot-3, 340-pound landed in Dallas via trade with the Raiders just before the NFL’s trade deadline in 2022, and he wasted no time making his presence felt when he stepped onto the field for the cowboys.
In need of a big-bodied nose tackle who could gobble up double (and sometimes triple) teams to allow defensive ends to attack the quarterback while obstructing inside lanes to bolster the run defense, Hankins it showed what he could be for the Cowboys’ defense.
It was exactly what Dallas needed to help improve its defense against the run last season, to say the least.
There was also some pre-existing familiarity to this relationship, considering Hankins is a former New York Giants second-round pick who often teamed up with Damon “Snacks” Harrison to make life difficult for the Cowboys’ offense in the game. course of his rookie contract: 2013 through the 2016 season.
He would then head to the Indianapolis Colts for a year-long stay before joining the Raiders, where the Cowboys sent out a draft pick to acquire him.
Having seen what their run defense looks like with and without him, the Cowboys knew what needed to be done when Hankins hit free agency in March and, for the most part, have already successfully held their defensive band together for the season. season 2023.
