Report: Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins to sign with Seattle Seahawks

Veteran defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins is off the free agency market. According to Dallas Cowboys reporter Micheal Gehlken, the 12-year vet is expected to join the NFC West’s Seattle Seahawks.

“Former Cowboys NT Johnathan Hankins is expected to sign with the Seahawks, a person close to the situation said. Both teams were interested. Seahawks offered more,” said Gehlken via X.

In his 11th season, Hankins had 27 tackles with three sacks in 14 regular season games while dealing with injury. The last time he had three sacks in a single season was in 2016 for the Giants. He also had four tackles with a half tackle for loss in the playoff loss against the Packers.

Hankins joined Dallas in October of 2022 in a trade with Las Vegas that sent a Cowboys’ 2023 sixth-round pick to the Raiders, and a 2024 seventh-round pick back to Dallas. The veteran out of Ohio State came in to boost the defensive line, however, he played in several games then tore a pectoral muscle.

He made his return in time for the playoffs and finished the year with five postseason tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss. He had 10 tackles in five regular season games. After the end of the playoff run, Dallas signed him to a new one-year deal for $1.5 million.

In his 11 seasons, Hankins has played for the Giants, Colts, Raiders (both in Oakland and Las Vegas), and Cowboys. He was a second-round draft pick for the Giants in 2013. He has 403 career tackles with 17.5 sacks and 45 tackles for loss.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who are will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.