If the New York Giants are able to bring back defensive tack Johnathan Hankins, nothing is stopping Big Blue from going the distance.
It has been a very active offseason for the New York Giants. They were able to sign key free agents such as Brandon Marshall, Rhett Ellison and former first-round draft pick D.J. Fluker.They were also able to re-sign two of their key members on defense in defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and linebacker Keenan Robinson. Now, they are trying to bring back one of the unsung heroes of the defensive last year in defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins.
Surprisingly after over two weeks in the free agency period, nobody has signed Hankins to deal yet, despite that fact that he’ll turn 25 next week, and is the best interior free agent lineman available.
It’s been reported that Hankins was seeking a contract that would pay him at least $10 million per year. But he and his agent haven’t found any suitors. This is why the Giants are becoming optimistic that Hankins will decide to return to a place he’s called home for last four seasons.
After missing the final seven games of the 2015 season due to a torn pectoral muscle, Hankins had a strong season registering 43 tackles and three sacks.
He and All-Pro defensive tackle Damon Harrison formed the best tackle duo in the NFL and the reason the Giants were tied for third in rush defense. Twice last season they contained the Dallas Cowboys high-powered rushing attack.
The Dallas Cowboys averaged 149.8 yards rushing yards per game last season which was second in the NFL. In two games against the Giants, they averaged 104.5 yards a game.
If the Giants are able to bring back Hankins, that would be all of the key starters on defense from a season ago would be back. When you consider that they’ll have another season playing together under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and that they’ll be on the field less because the offense will be on the field longer with the additions they made, the Giants defense has the potential to be the number one ranked defense in the league this season.
A team that has the best defense in the league, and the best trio of receivers in Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, and Sterling Shepard will be too much for the other 31 teams to deal with.
According to Bovada, right now the betting odds of the Giants winning Super Bowl LII is +1800 which is the fourth best odds behind the New England Patriots (+400), Seattle Seahawks (+1000) and Oakland Raiders (+1600). If the Giants are able to bring back Hankins, they’ll move past the other three teams and become the odds-on favorite to win it all.
2017 marks the 10 year anniversary of the New York Giants defeating the 18-0 New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. If the Giants are able to bring back Hankins and everything falls according to the plan of Bovada, these two teams will meet again in Super Bowl LII, and you know what happens when the Giants meet the Patriots in the Super Bowl.
