Raiders: Johnathan Hankins decides to re-sign, and here is why

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 24: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders and Johnathan Hankins #90 react to watching a review of a play during the first half in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Allegiant Stadium on October 24, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Morris/Getty Images) /

The Raiders sign their fifth defensive tackle this off-season

The Las Vegas Raiders had just one defensive tackle on the roster going into this year’s free agency period. Two waves of free agency later, that number jumped to four.

Bilal Nichols came in the first wave, with the duo of Vernon Butler and Kyle Peko coming in the second. Now having more pieces than Andrew Billings, who was the lone interior defensive lineman Las Vegas went into free agency with, it was unclear if the Raiders were still in the defensive tackle market or not.

On April 1st, that question was answered, when the team announced the return of Hankins.

There was nothing but mutual interest here, and being this is an excellent fit, it’s not too surprising Las Vegas elected to add another defensive tackle. Hankins is the type of player the defensive interior needed, and the Raiders were the team that the former Buckeye hoped to return to.

"“I was able to get an opportunity to come back and play with the Raiders, and that was pretty hard to turn down.”"

Hankins is the second-longest tenured defensive player on the Raiders, behind safety Dallin Leavitt, who was signed earlier in the same year. However, in terms of being on the active roster, Hankins is the longest-tenured.

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