Mike Macdonald often says you can’t have too many defensive linemen.
That’s why the Seahawks are bringing back another, a veteran one.
Nose tackle Johnathan Hankins signed back to Seattle Wednesday on a deal Coach Macdonald mentioned last weekend during the team’s rookie minicamp.
“This guy is a heck of a player,” Macdonald said Saturday of the 33-year-old Hankins. “We’re excited to get him back.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a major void, because we have guys that can play in the ‘A’ gap. But, yeah, when you watch tape last year, he played some pretty dang good football for us.”
Bringing back the 325-pound Hankins for a 13th NFL season comes after Seattle signed veteran defensive lineman DeMarcus Lawrence from Dallas earlier this offseason. Lawrence got a three-year deal worth up to $42 million, with $18 million guaranteed.
In March, the Seahawks also signed back defensive tackle and popular locker-room leader Jarran Reed on a three-year contract worth up to $25 million.
Now, Hankins is the third veteran who will join Byron Murphy on the interior of Seattle’s defensive line. Murphy, the team’s 2024 first-round pick, needs more in 2025 than the 49% of defensive snaps he played a rookie last season.
Hankins, Lawrence and Reed are 896 pounds of veteran presence on the Seahawks’ D-line.
Macdonald and Seattle also a couple weeks ago drafted a defensive tackle who also plays end. The Seahawks expect fifth-round pick Rylie Mills to recover from a torn knee ligament from December in time to contribute sometime later this coming season.
Hankins said he is snug in Seattle.
“Being here last year, the success we had, the group we had defensively, and now we have D-Law (Lawrence) here, and some more key guys—we drafted a D-tackle—I just feel comfortable here,” Hankins told the Seahawks’ team website Wednesday after signing again. “I like it here. Everything made sense.
“To be able to still be playing in year 13…and obviously the organization wanted me back, so it just made sense.”
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (97) comes off the field during the second quarter of the game at Lumen Field, on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 in Seattle, Wash. Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com
A former Raider, Colt and Giant, Hankins arrived in free agency in March 2024 following his one season with Cowboys.
It didn’t take long for Hankins to help the Seahawks last season. He was particularly brilliant in week three, beyond the three tackles he was credited with officially in Seattle’s home win over Miami. In the second half, he blew up run after Dolphins run inside. He often smashed through double teams. When Miami had a first and goal, Hankins blew up the first three plays. The third was a quarterback hit up the middle.
But as the season went on, Hankins played less. The big, veteran tackle from Dearborn Heights, Michigan, played a season-high 77% of defensive snaps in week four Sept. 29 in Detroit against his hometown Lions. That was his highest rate of playing time in a game since 2017, when he was playing for Indianapolis.
But by November, Hankins was playing less than 30% of snaps.
A rate in between that and his 2024 season high is likely the best fit for Hankins for 2025, amid Murphy’s expected increase in playing time.
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