Bears Free Agency: Who’s Left?

DT Jonathan Hankins, Giants (6’3 | 320 | 24) – There has been a surprising lack of interest in the former 2nd round pick out of Ohio St in 2013. Hankins has been a force on the interior of the Giants line over the last three seasons with 10 sacks, 124 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, and a significant impact on the Giants #1 rush defense last year.

According to Adam Schefter, when Hankins was off the field for the Giants they allowed the most yards per rush in the league. When he was on the field over the last three years, Hankins was one of only five players to record 20+ TFLs, over nine sacks, and multiple forced fumbles from the defensive tackle position along with Aaron Donald, Calais Campbell, Kawaan Short, Geno Atkins, and Gerald McCoy.

At only 24 years old, Hankins has the potential to step into the Bears defensive line rotation as a nose tackle or five-tech right away and impact the running game for years. He is coming off the worst season of his four-year career with a drop in Pro Football Focus grade from 80.9 to 47.1, so his price tag might be more affordable than you think.

Part of the drop in productivity was due to a position change from the 1-tech in the Giants 4-3 scheme, which is mainly tasked with stopping the run, to the 3-tech position after the Giants added run-stuffer Damon Harrison in free agency. Hankins is a beast against the run and is best suited as a 1-tech in a 4-3 , a 0-tech (NT), or a 5-tech defensive end in a 3-4 like the Bears run.

He has the size and strength to take on double teams that could make Hankins an ideal fit as the 5-tech in DC Vic Fangio’s scheme. He could also provide valuable depth at nose tackle in case Eddie Goldman continues to struggle with injuries.

The Bears run defense fell apart when Goldman was out of the lineup, which was the case for ten games last year, and the Bears didn’t have an effective nose tackle to replace him besides Hicks, which opened a hole at his usual DE position. The recent signing of NT John Jenkins will help, but Hankins is a few years younger with significantly more upside and versatility. Hankins would give the Bears a young, potentially dominant defensive line of Goldman, Hicks, and Hankins.

If the Bears are set on drafting Jonathan Allen with the 3rd pick, then maybe Hankins isn’t a priority target, but signing Hankins could free up the Bears to address their secondary (Adams, Hooker, Lattimore) or even add a developmental quarterback with their first round pick.