NFL Notes: Colts, Cowboys, Jets, Patriots, Redskins

Colts

Recently acquired Colts DT Johnathan Hankins said he wants to be a three-down defensive tackle and that he is an “all-around player.”

“I want to be a three-down guy,” Hankins said, via Mike Wells of ESPN. “I’ve been doing that when I was with the Giants in the past two years. It’s never been a problem. I’ve had 10 sacks in my career with the Giants, so I can definitely get sacks. I don’t just view myself as a run-stopper, even though that’s what got me in the league. But [ever since] I’ve been in the league, I’ve shown teams that I can get to the quarterback and I can be an all-around player.”

Hankins added that he expects to be a leader in the Colts’ locker room.

“As long as I go out there and do my job and be productive … I’m OK with that,” Hankins said. “Continue to do what I was doing with the Giants and bring a different dimension to this team and be more of a leader and get wins and get to the ultimate goal, which is win the Super Bowl. We’ve got some young guys, we’ve got some new guys and I’m one of those new guys, so I’m excited to get everything started.”

Cowboys

• Todd Archer of ESPN does not think the Cowboys would pursue Seahawks CB Richard Sherman because he is an aging player due to make $22.4 million over the next two years and would require Dallas to part with draft picks.
• Archer considers Patriots restricted free agent CB Malcolm Butler being a better option because he is two years younger.
• Archer doesn’t expect the Cowboys to sign any free agents until after the draft, given that they don’t want it to impact their compensatory picks next year and along with the fact that they have limited cap room to work with.
• At this point, the Cowboys could obtain three or four compensatory picks towards the 2018 NFL Draft due to G Ronald Leary, S Barry Church, DT Terrell McClain and CB Brandon Carr departing for new teams as free agents.

Jets

• Rich Cimini of ESPN does not think Jets GM Mike Maccagnan or HC Todd Bowles have the job security to capably trade their No. 6 overall pick for first-round picks in next year’s draft.
• Cimini believes Bowles is entering a season where he must “win now” or at least prove that the franchise is headed in the right direction.
• The Jets would ideally be able to trade down from the No. 6 pick and acquire future first-round picks in the process. Cimini mentions that the Texans at No. 25 as a potential trade partner.

Patriots

• In the event that Patriots HC Bill Belichick decides to retire, Mike Reiss of ESPN does not think Belichick remaining with the team as an official advisor to a new head coach would be in the best interest of the team or coach, considering that the incumbent would face great pressure to replace the future Hall of Fame coach.
• Belichick recently said that he still enjoys coaching and plans to do so for the foreseeable future: “I am kind of shortsighted here, so I’m good, certainly good here this year, good for a while. I like what I am doing. I enjoy all parts of the game — the team building, training camp, game days, the excitement of Sunday … it beats working.”

Redskins

• According to John Keim of ESPN, the Redskins’ front office ultimately decided to sign two defensive tackles in Stacy McGee and Terrell McClain as opposed to bringing in one expensive player like Chiefs DT Bennie Logan or Colts DT Johnathan Hankins.