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Re-signing Johnathan Hankins was one of the New York Giants’ top two off-eason priorities, along with bringing back Jason Pierre-Paul.
The Giants reached a big long-term deal with JPP, potentially locking him up for the remainder of his career and securing one of the top all-around 4-3 defensive ends in the league. The only major item left on their defensive offseason “To Do” list is to bring back Hankins, who along with Damon Harrison helped form one of the best run defenses in the NFL.
The Giants were reportedly working hard on a deal before free agency opened and Hankins went to test the open market.
A market for him, at his asking price, has never materialized.
Reports have come out since that Hankins’ representation has set his price at four years, and an average salary of $10 million per year, which has proven to be too rich for the entire league.
Monday morning NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Giants have an offer on the tableon the table, but their patience seem to be wearing thin.
1 of the top FAs -- #Giants DT Jonathan Hankins -- has tried for weeks to beat NYG's standing offer. Hasn't done it yet. They want an answer
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 20, 2017
This is how the Giants have conducted their business in free agency since Jerry Reese has been their general manager. They have their valuation of free agents. If the player feels differently, they are free to test the market. They are also open to working with players who are willing to work with them — as they had with Terrell Thomas, Victor Cruz, and Jason Pierre-Paul. But they don’t respond well to attempts to strong-arm them.
The feeling since free agency opened and a market for defensive tackles never really materialized was that every day he went without interest from the rest of the league, the greater the odds that he would come back to the Giants. With New York still putting the best deal on the table, it might be time for the rubber to meet the road before their patience reaches its limits.