3 UFAs that should be a priority for the Las Vegas Raiders
Johnathan Hankins should also return in 2021
In a year where the Raiders’ defensive line struggled mightily, Johnathan Hankins was a bright spot. In reality, the defensive tackle has been a rock for the Silver and Black since 2018, as he has 46 starts under his belt during that stretch and has posted solid numbers overall while excelling in run defense.
His PFF run-defense grade of 68.8 was among the best within the Raiders and he’s definitely earned a stay beyond 2021.
The issue with Hankins will be how much money he’ll command. Per Spotrac, his previous contract was for two years and was worth $8.5 million in total. It’s plausible he’d sign a similar deal though another team could steal him with a larger contract, especially a team in dire need of run support defensively.
Hankins is a gifted player that can create pressure and shut down the run as seen above. While the Raiders as a whole gave up 2,013 yards on the ground, losing Hankins would certainly not help matters.
Next. Las Vegas Raiders: Linebacker additions who fit Gus Bradley’s scheme. dark
Losing both Hankins and possibly, Maliek Collins would leave some huge holes on that line. The Raiders would save themselves a headache and bring back their reliable run-stopper, negating the need to draft more than one defensive tackle.