Seahawks Release DT Johnathan Hankins From NFI List
Today, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Seahawks released veteran defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, who had spent the season on the team’s reserve/non-football injury list due to a back injury he had sustained in the offseason. Because the season has already progressed past the trade deadline, even vested veterans have to clear waivers before hitting free agency, so Hankins will be available to be claimed tomorrow. 
It isn’t likely that Hankins will be claimed by a new team, though. Two weeks ago, Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald informed the media that Hankins was not going to be activated from the NFI list during the 2025 season. There’s always a chance Hankins disagreed with that opinion and asked to be released so that he could have a chance to play this season with another club, but we’ll find that out if he clears waivers.
At 33 years old, Hankins may not slot in as a starter anywhere he goes the way he did in his prime. Routinely a strong interior defender over his first two contracts, Hankins’ level of play has leveled out as he continues to count the seasons. Still, after his time as a starter for the Raiders came to a close after four and a half years, punctuated by a trade to Dallas, Hankins was able to reestablish himself as a starter for the Cowboys in his first full year with the team.
With the Seahawks, his defense left a bit to be desired, but the team depended on him in the interior. No other lineman saw more snaps over center, and he was utilized frequently enough to log eight starts while playing in every game of the season for the first time since 2020. It earned him another one-year deal with the team, and even though he would’ve been a free agent at the end of the year anyway, Seattle has given him a headstart on free agency by putting him on waivers today.
Seahawks DT Johnathan Hankins Will Not Play In 2025
Johnathan Hankins was a regular for the Seahawks last season. The veteran defensive tackle will not see any time on the field for Seattle in 2025, however.
A back injury suffered in the offseason landed Hankins on the reserve/NFI list during roster cutdowns. An absence of at least four games was ensured by the move, but the 33-year-old has yet to play in 2025. Head coach Mike Macdonald said on Wednesday (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times) a return for the closing stages of the campaign will not take place.
In 2024, Hankins made eight starts and handled a defensive snap share of 35%. The former second-rounder totaled 30 tackles, one sack and the first interception of his career during his debut Seahawks season. A similar showing this time around would have been expected, but instead Seattle will remain shorthanded up front the rest of the way. The team ranks sixth in the NFL against the run, so Hankins’ absence has not proven to be too much of an issue so far.
Hankins has played on one-year pacts dating back to 2021. A veteran of five NFL teams, the Ohio State product landed $2.05MM on his first Seahawks contract. He re-signed in April, securing a slight raise in terms of overall value ($2.12MM) and guarantees ($350K). Needless to say, another one-year contract will await Hankins when his next gig is in place.
Seattle was among the teams to add at the trade deadline by acquiring wideout Rashid Shaheed from the Saints. No moves were made along the defensive line, though. With it now known Hankins will not return at any point this year, the Seahawks could look to make a depth addition up front via the free agent market. The team currently has $17.59MM in cap space.
Seahawks Cut 34 Players, Set 53-Man Roster
The Seahawks kicked off their roster trimming with a handful of moves, including releasing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and trading offensive tackle Michael Jerrell to the Falcons. The rest of the team’s final cuts are below:
Released:
- DT Quinton Bohanna
- CB Tyler Hall (injury settlement)
- CB Shemar Jean-Charles
- WR Steven Sims (injury settlement)
- LS Zach Triner
Waived:
- WR Tyrone Broden
- CB Keydrain Calligan
- DT Anthony Campbell
- LB Seth Coleman
- T Luke Felix-Fualalo
- DE Jalan Gaines
- LB D’Eryk Jackson
- T Amari Kight
- TE Marshall Lang
- G Sataoa Laumea
- C Federico Maranges
- RB Damien Martinez
- LB Patrick O’Connell
- NT Brandon Pili
- S Jerrick Reed
- LB Josh Ross
- LB Jamie Sheriff
- DT J.R. Singleton
- LB Tyreke Smith
- NT Bubba Thomas
- LB Alphonzo Tuputala
- RB Anthony Tyus III
- CB Isas Waxter (injury settlement)
- WR Ricky White
- CB Damarion Williams
- RB Jacardia Wright
Waived/injured:
- WR John Rhys Plumlee
- FB Wesley Steiner
Placed on reserve/NFI:
- DL Johnathan Hankins
- DE Rylie Mills
Placed on IR (designated for return):
Christian Haynes should eventually return to the active roster once he’s fully recovered from a pec injury. The 2024 third-round pick got into 16 games with Seattle as a rookie, appearing in 167 offensive snaps and 67 special teams snaps. Despite his early-season absence, the team still moved on from a handful of notable linemen. This includes Sataoa Laumea, who started all six of his appearances with the Seahawks last year.
The Seahawks moved on from a handful of veterans today, including a pair of cornerbacks. Shemar Jean-Charles has appeared in 37 career games, including nine (two starts) with the Saints in 2024. The former fifth-round pick has compiled 29 tackles and one interception. Seattle also moved on from Tyler Hall via an injury settlement. The cornerback started six of his 18 appearances for the Raiders over the past two years.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/23/25
With several training camps underway, here are today’s minor NFL transactions:
Baltimore Ravend
- Placed on active/NFI list: LB Jake Hummel
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on active/NFI list: WR Laviska Shenault
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Tre Swilling
- Waived: QB Ethan Garbers
Chicago Bears
- Released: S Tarvarius Moore
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers (from Eagles): DE K.J. Henry
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from active/PUP list: CB Micah Robinson, LB Quay Walker
Houston Texans
- Placed on active/PUP list: DE Denico Autry, DE Derek Barnett, C Eli Cox, DT Foley Fatukasi, DT Kurt Hinish, LB K.C. Ossai, RB Dameon Pierce, RB J.J. Taylor
- Placed on active/NFI list: CB Alijah Huzzie, RB Joe Mixon
- Waived: CB Keydrain Calligan
Los Angeles Chargers
- Reverted to reserve/PUP list: T Savion Washington
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on active/PUP list: WR Tru Edwards, TE Mark Redman
New England Patriots
- Activated from active/PUP list: LB Jahlani Tavai
- Activated from active/NFI list: CB Carlton Davis, WR Jeremiah Webb
New York Giants
- Reverted to reserve/PUP list: S Anthony Johnson
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Samuel Jackson
- Activated from active/NFI list: LB Aaron Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Joe Evans
- Placed on active/PUP list: LB Nakobe Dean
- Waived (with injury designation): OL Marcus Tate
Seattle Seahawks
- Placed on active/NFI list: DT Johnathan Hankins
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DT Timmy Horne, RB Jermar Jefferson
- Place on IR: QB Will Levis (story)
- Placed on reserve/retired list: OLB Lorenzo Carter (story)
Washington Commanders
- Signed: WR Tay Martin
- Placed on active/PUP list: G Sam Cosmi (story)
- Placed on reserve/did not report list: WR Terry McLaurin (story)
Houston fans may be discouraged to see a few big names on injured lists, but all is not lost. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 tells us that Mixon’s “medical outlook is positive” as the team plans to gradually increase his activity throughout camp. Likewise, Autry is expected to ease his way back into camp workouts, as well. Pierce, on the other hand, is expected to be ready to come off the list at the start of camp.
Per ESPN’s John Keim, Cosmi likely won’t see much time on the field in camp, but he appears to be hitting all the mile markers en route to being healthy for the start of the regular season. With McLaurin officially beginning his holdout yesterday, the team has made the corresponding roster move. McLaurin will rack up fines of $50K per each day missed, but if the team can come to terms on an extension, they can make sure those fines are nullified.
Seahawks To Re-Sign DT Johnathan Hankins
Entering the NFL shortly after his 21st birthday has helped Johnathan Hankins enjoy a long career. The Seahawks will give the veteran defensive tackle a chance at a 13th season.
The team is re-signing Hankins, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Hankins, now 33, played in all 17 Seattle games last season and worked as a part-time starter. The Seahawks are Hankins’ fifth team, but he has a connection stemming from stop No. 4.
Seattle hired Aden Durde as DC last year, and the team brought in one of his former charges from Dallas. Previously the Cowboys’ D-line coach, Durde mentored Hankins from 2022-23. That partnership continued in Seattle last year, as the Seahawks used the big-bodied defender as an eight-game starter. Hankins did not miss a game during his first Seahawks season.
This will reequip the Seahawks with a true nose tackle. The team has Jarran Reed, Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams up front, but Hankins will be back as a complementary piece who will help allow that pass-rushing trio better opportunities. Hankins played 35% of Seattle’s defensive snaps last season, logging 390.
Originally a Giants second-round pick in 2013, Hankins made his way into the team’s then-Tom Coughlin-led team’s starting lineup by Year 2. Helping the team to the playoffs in 2016, the 325-pound NT scored a three-year, $27MM commitment from the Colts. Indianapolis, however, cut bait on that deal after one season. The NFL then collectively viewed Hankins as a lower-value player, though he has continued to land gigs.
The Raiders gave Hankins four contracts during a partnership that lasted nearly five seasons; none of the deals topped $4.5MM per year. (Hankins played for $2.1MM on his first Seahawks contract.) The team traded Hankins to the Cowboys during the 2022 campaign, and he helped Dallas against the run during a 12-5 season. The Cowboys then used him as a 14-game starter in 2023. He registered three sacks that year, but as the Cowboys transitioned to Mike Zimmer‘s defensive scheme in 2024, Hankins rejoined Durde out west.
Last season, Hankins tallied five tackles for loss — his most since 2019 — and batted down a pass. He added an interception against the 49ers in Week 11. Not many players remain active from the 2013 draft, but a handful of second-round picks that year have signed one-year deals this offseason. Zach Ertz, Darius Slay and Robert Woods caught on, while Geno Smith — as QB careers can obviously last longer — scored a two-year Raiders extension earlier this month.
Seahawks Contract Details: Hankins, Wallace, Anchrum, Shenault, Dodson, Burns, Baker
Here are some details from recently agreed-upon contracts in Seattle:
- Johnathan Hankins, DT: One year, $2.05MM. According to ESPN’s Brady Henderson, Hankins’ new deal includes a base salary of $1.24MM and $300K of guaranteed money in the form of a signing bonus. He can earn up to $510K in per-game active roster bonuses.
- K’Von Wallace, S: One year, $1.5MM. Henderson informs us that Wallace’s contract will have a base salary of $1.13MM and includes $205K of guaranteed money that all comes in the signing bonus. Wallace will also be able to earn up to $170K via per-game active roster bonuses.
- Tremayne Anchrum, G: One year, $1.16MM. Once again, Henderson tells us that Anchrum’s new deal will include a base salary of $1.06MM and a guaranteed amount of $100K in the form of a signing bonus.
- Laviska Shenault Jr., WR: One year, $1.29MM. According to Henderson, Shenault’s new contract has a guaranteed amount of $1.15MM comprised of $985K of his base salary (worth a total of $1.13MM) and a $167.5K signing bonus.
- Tyrel Dodson, LB: One year, $4.26MM. Dodson’s new deal has a guaranteed amount of $1MM comprised completely of his signing bonus, per Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. With a base salary of $2.25MM, Dodson can earn an additional $250K in a workout bonus and a potential $760K in per-game active roster bonuses. Nick Korte of OvertheCap.com tells us that the contract adds another seventh-round compensatory pick for the Bills in 2025 while taking a sixth-round compensatory pick away from the Seahawks.
- Artie Burns, CB: One year, $1.38MM. Condotta also tells us that Burns has signed for the veteran minimum, once again. He’ll hold a base salary of $1.21MM with $75K of guaranteed money in the form of a signing bonus. He can earn another potential $92.5K with a roster bonus.
- Jerome Baker, LB: One year, $7MM. We were already aware of the $7MM value of Baker’s deal, but ESPN’s Henderson informs us that Baker’s new deal has a guaranteed amount of $6.02MM, consisting of his $2.02MM base salary and $4MM signing bonus. The $977.5K remaining in non-guaranteed money will come in the form of per-game active roster bonuses.
Seahawks To Sign DT Johnathan Hankins
After playing multiple seasons in Dallas, Johnathan Hankins will relocate again. The well-traveled defensive tackle will commit to the Seahawks, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo notes.
On a Seattle visit Tuesday, Hankins will agree to head west after spending 1 1/2 seasons in Dallas. Acquired at the 2022 trade deadline, Hankins re-signed with the Cowboys in 2023. He played a key role in Dallas’ run-stopping efforts, and the Seahawks will expect the same on a defensive line already housing Dre’Mont Jones and the recently re-signed Leonard Williams. Hankins will follow former Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde to Seattle, which hired the England-born coach as its defensive coordinator.
Hankins, who will turn 32 next week, has joined Jadeveon Clowney in signing one-year contracts over the past several years. He agreed to four with the Raiders and one with the Cowboys. Given his age and contractual history, it would surprise if this Seahawks pact covered multiple seasons.
The Cowboys’ defense featured Hankins as a key presence at nose tackle; the team used him as a 14-game starter in 2023. It certainly missed Hankins’ presence in late-season losses to the Bills and Dolphins, with the Buffalo defeat bringing a James Cook rampage on the ground. The Seahawks struggled defending the run last season, ranking 31st in yards allowed and 27th in yards per carry yielded. A full season of Williams stands to help on this front, and Hankins will come over to aid the cause as well.
Mike Macdonald‘s first Seattle defense will feature a veteran-heavy front. While the team will lose considerable experience at linebacker due to Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks‘ departures, it will have Williams, Jones, Hankins and Jarran Reed on its D-line. Reed signed a two-year contract last season. The team lost Mario Edwards in free agency; he joined the Texans earlier today. Hankins profiles as more of a base-set player than one used in sub-packages, but the Seahawks are now deep at D-tackle.
DL Notes: Donald, Jones, Young, Cowboys
The Rams moving on from a wave of defensive starters this offseason could soon call Aaron Donald‘s status into question. No notable Donald trade noise has circulated just yet, but with the Rams retooling, those would not surprise. Donald’s landmark extension runs through 2024, but the guarantees on that $31.7MM-per-year deal end this year. Donald’s contract includes a no-trade clause, but it does not look like he will prioritize his hometown Steelers — either via trade or a potential free agency run. While the Pittsburgh alum may not necessarily rule out a stint with his hometown team, NBC Sports’ Peter King notes the all-time great does not have such a move as a priority. The Rams must decide on Donald’s 2024 status by Day 5 of the 2024 league year, when $30MM becomes guaranteed.
Donald, 32, threatened to retire last year but secured a landmark raise. The 10th-year veteran was not closely connected to retirement plans this offseason. Here is the latest from the D-line scene:
- Chase Young is on the verge of returning to full-time duty, after a 2021 ACL tear and patellar tendon rupture sidetracked the former Defensive Rookie of the Year’s career. But the fourth-year Commanders defensive end is recovering from another issue. As a result of a stinger sustained in the first preseason game, The Athletic’s Ben Standig notes Young has not received full clearance to return and is not a lock to be available in Week 1 (subscription required). Young has not practiced fully in more than two weeks; he was expected to meet with a doctor this week. The Commanders declined Young’s fifth-year option in May, putting him in a contract year along with Montez Sweat.
- Chris Jones‘ holdout has extended past the one-month mark, and while fines have piled up, the disgruntled D-tackle has indicated he would be willing to push this hiatus toward the midseason point. Jones reporting only to pick up an accrued season would certainly harm the Chiefs, who have relied on their dominant interior D-lineman for years. On that note, GM Brett Veach said (via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams) the sides have increased communication this week. Jones would accumulate nearly $10MM in total fines — from training camp fines and missed game checks — were he to sit out until Week 8. Andy Reid said Friday he has not been given any indication Jones will be back in time for Kansas City’s Thursday-night opener. Jones wants Donald-level money; the Chiefs are looking to pay him closer to the second tier of DT deals that formed this offseason. Quinnen Williams‘ $24MM-AAV deal tops that contingent.
- The Cowboys appear to be planning to work in first-round Mazi Smith slowly. The Michigan product is expected to be a rotational player to begin his career, with The Athletic’s Jon Machota and Saad Yousuf noting Johnathan Hankins and Osa Odighizuwa are likely to be team’s defensive tackle starters in Week 1. Smith, however, will obviously be expected to move into the starting lineup early in his career.
- Joseph Ossai‘s status for the Bengals‘ opener is up in the air due to a high ankle sprain, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes. The third-year defensive end is unlikely to suit up against the Browns, per Conway. While Ossai has shown some promise, injuries have continued to intervene. The 2021 third-round pick missed his entire rookie year and, after playing through a torn labrum late last year, underwent offseason surgery. The Bengals are deeper at D-end now, having drafted Myles Murphy in Round 1 to join Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard.
Contract Notes: Jaguars, Singletary, Packers
The Jaguars reworked safety Rayshawn Jenkins‘ contract earlier this week, creating a chunk of cap space. Per Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com, the team converted more than $6.4MM of Jenkins’ salary into a signing bonus and added three void years to the contract. As a result, the team dropped the defensive back’s cap number from $10.5MM to $5.3MM, thus opening more than $5MM in cap space.
Jenkins’ 2024 cap number will rise by more than $1MM. In the event the Jaguars eventually move on from the player, they’ll be left with a dead cap hit of $5.1MM in 2024 or $3.85MM in 2025.
We’ve collected more contract notes below:
- Calais Campbell‘s one-year, $7MM deal with the Falcons includes a $4MM guaranteed salary and a $3MM signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter). He can earn another $2MM via incentives, including marks for sacks and playing time. According to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein (on Twitter), $500K of Campbell’s incentives are likely to be earned.
- Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins inked a one-year, $1.16MM deal with the Cowboys that also includes an $152K signing bonus, per Wilson (on Twitter). After starting 116 of his 117 appearances between 2014 and 2021, Hankins only started four of his 10 appearances for the Raiders and Cowboys last season.
- Running back Devin Singletary‘s new deal with the Texans includes up to $1MM in incentives, per Wilson (on Twitter). Half of those bonuses come via playing time incentives, and he can earn another $500K for certain statistical milestones above 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
- Dallin Leavitt’s one-year contract with the Packers is worth $1.4MM, including a $1.08MM base salary, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky (on Twitter). He can earn up to $170K in roster bonuses, all via $10K per-game roster incentives. Demovsky also passes along that Justin Hollins got an $155K signing bonus and $45K workout bonuses from the Packers, while Eric Wilson got an $152K signing bonus.
- Defensive lineman Carlos Watkins got a one-year, $1.67MM deal from the Cardinals, according to Howard Balzer (on Twitter). This includes a $250K signing bonus, an $1.08MM signing bonus, and up to $340K in per-game roster bonuses. That all results in an $1.57MM cap hit.
- Jordan Phillips‘ contract with the Bills is for one year worth $3MM, per Ryan O’Halloran of The Buffalo News (on Twitter). He’ll earn $1.22MM in guaranteed money, and he can earn up to $4.6MM thanks to incentives.
Cowboys Re-Sign DT Johnathan Hankins
Dallas has checked another item off their offseason to-do list, signing defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins to a new contract, according to Cowboys staff writer Patrik Walker. The team had previously let it be known that they had every intention of bringing Hankins back for another year. 
The veteran lineman joined the Cowboys as a part of a midseason trade last year that sent Hankins and a 2024 seventh-round pick to Dallas in exchange for a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft. Hankins played in five games for the Cowboys, starting three, before being placed on injured reserve for the rest of the regular season. He made it back to the active roster in time for the playoffs, though, and played a strong snap percentage in the team’s two postseason contests.
Hankins doesn’t light up a stat sheet, but he does the dirty work in the trenches that allows his teammates to steal the spotlight. He showed up last season for a Cowboys defense that was struggling mightily against the run. The impact he was able to make in his short time with the team was enough to convince Cowboys decision makers to bring him back.
The 30-year-old will be coming back on a one-year deal worth approximately $1.5MM. He’s set to receive a $1.17MM base salary with a bonus of $152,500. The deal is a veteran salary benefit contract, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, meaning Hankins should have a cap hit of just under $1MM.
Hankins’s re-signing continues a strong offseason for Dallas, which has made strong moves to bring in cornerback Stephon Gilmore and wide receiver Brandin Cooks while securing in-house free agents on defense like safety Donovan Wilson, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, and defensive end Dante Fowler. According to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys also have interest in bringing back another defensive line depth piece in Carlos Watkins. Watkins and Hankins would team up once again with Neville Gallimore to provide some serious depth on the interior defensive line behind starters Quinton Bohanna and Osa Odighizuwa.