NFL teams
John Keim, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Johnathan Hankins, Orlando Scandrick to visit Redskins

The Washington Redskins will host free agent defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins as well as corner Orlando Scandrick, per multiple sources. The latter will visit Monday; it's believed Hankins will be at Redskins Park at that time as well. Both players were released by their respective teams, with Hankins being let go by Indianapolis Saturday afternoon.

The Redskins want to improve their defensive line and made an offer to Muhammad Wilkerson before free agency started. Wilkerson signed with Green Bay, which offered more guaranteed money than Washington. The Redskins have been reluctant to pay more money for players who are older, though Wilkerson is only 28 and Sheldon Richardson only 27. However, one source said their favored age range to pay bigger money would be 25; Hankins turns 26 later this month.

Hankins signed a three-year, $27-million deal with Indianapolis last offseason and by all accounts had a solid season. He's also considered a good presence in the locker room. However, the Colts are switching to a 4-3 defense in which they want smaller, quicker defensive tackles. Hankins' contract was also structured to where all the guaranteed money was in the first year of the deal, so there's no dead money on the cap.

The Redskins signed two free agent defensive linemen last offseason -- Stacy McGee and Terrell McClain. They also drafted Jonathan Allen in the first round.

Allen and Matt Ioannidis played well together early last season before injuries hit. Allen ended up playing only five games because of a Lisfranc tear. The Redskins want more depth, someone who can help stop the run but also push the pocket to help the edge rushers.

Hankins has 12 career sacks, with seven coming in 2014 with the New York Giants. He spent his first four seasons with the Giants.

The Redskins hosted corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie before free agency started and have remained in contact with him. But Rodgers-Cromartie recently told ESPN's Josina Anderson that he will wait until April to make a decision. He could help the Redskins as a slot corner in addition to playing outside if needed.

But that's why they'd be interested in Scandrick as well. He asked for his release from Dallas earlier in the week. Scandrick has started 69 games in his career while also playing the slot earlier in his career.

Injuries have hindered him the last three years; he missed all of 2015 with a torn ACL and MCL and had to sit out a combined nine games the last two years. He missed five games last year with a back injury. He was second-team All-Pro in 2014, the same year he was suspended two games for violation of the NFL's policy on substance abuse.

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