The Las Vegas Raiders have a lot of work to do in terms of their roster this offseason, and that includes cleaning up a ton of cap space. They have already done some of the heavy lifting, cutting ties with Tyrell Williams, a player who struggled with the injury bug after signing a four-year deal with the franchise.
That move freed up millions of dollars, but moves remain, and players like Trent Brown, Richie Incognito, and Marcus Mariota could also be coming off the books. Last season, the Raiders won eight games, a one-game improvement, but they still missed out on the playoffs, and the defense struggled mightily down the stretch.
While the defense as a whole struggled, there were a few bright spots, including Johnathan Hankins. Since coming to the Raiders, Hankins has been one of the better players for the Silver and Black on that side of the ball and is someone the team needs to bring back in free agency this offseason.
Raiders would be wise to bring back Johnathan Hankins
Hankins came to the Silver and Black in September of 2018 and ended up starting 14 games. In 2019, Hankins signed a two-year extension with the team, becoming a force in the middle of their defensive line, proving to be elite against the run.
On a defense where the franchise has swung and missed so many times in bringing in talent, Hankins has actually been a solid signing and should be a part of the solution this upcoming season. Hankins is a former second-round pick, and will still only be 29 years old at the start of the 2021 NFL season, so there should still be plenty of tread left on the tires.
The Raiders have already brought back David Irving this offseason, and he is going to get another opportunity to prove he can still be a productive player in the NFL. Maurice Hurst is a good young defensive tackle, and the Raiders have some early draft capital, so bolstering the interior of the defensive line could be accomplished with the right moves this offseason.