Johnathan Hankins is staying in Dallas for his 11th NFL season.
The former Ohio State defensive tackle, who joined the Dallas Cowboys last October via a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders, re-signed with the team on Wednesday. Per Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News, Hankins signed a one-year, veteran salary benefit deal with the team, which is worth slightly more than $1.3 million.
Johnathan Hankins is stayin' in Dallas
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) March 29, 2023
: https://t.co/VNdqG7W3Sl#DallasCowboys | @blockchain pic.twitter.com/4YLhMM1kUd
Cowboys NT Johnathan Hankins signed a veteran salary benefit contract. He receives a $1.165M salary with a $152,500 bonus. https://t.co/eDa5Ozm5ZR
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) March 29, 2023
Between the regular season and playoffs, Hankins recorded 15 total tackles with a sack and a pass deflection in seven games after joining the Cowboys last season. The 6-foot-3, 340-pound nose tackle quickly became a fan favorite in Dallas after making an immediate impact on the Cowboys’ run defense.
A second-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft, Hankins has appeared in 138 games with 120 starts in his first 10 seasons in the league and has recorded 376 total tackles with 37 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 10 pass deflections. He previously played for the New York Giants (2013-16), Indianapolis Colts (2017) and Raiders (2018-22) before joining the Cowboys.
He’s one of several Buckeyes who became or were set to become free agents this season who signed one-year deal to remain with the teams they played for last year, along with Tyquan Lewis (Colts), Raekwon McMillan (New England Patriots), Liam McCullough (Atlanta Falcons) and Wyatt Davis (Giants). Buckeyes who have changed teams since the start of free agency include Dre’Mont Jones (Seattle Seahawks), Vonn Bell (Carolina Panthers), Parris Campbell (Giants), Noah Brown (Houston Texans) and Jake McQuaide (Detroit Lions).
Former Ohio State players who became free agents earlier this month that remain unsigned include Eli Apple, Bradley Roby, Billy Price, Michael Jordan and Nick Vannett. Ezekiel Elliott also remains unsigned after being released by the Dallas Cowboys earlier this month, leaving Hankins and Malik Hooker as the only remaining Buckeyes on the Cowboys’ roster following the departures of Brown and McQuaide.
