On the second day of free agency, the Atlanta Falcons added more offensive help by signing former Washington Redskins wide receiver Leonard Hankerson. The 6’2″, 211 lbs. wide out was selected in the third round by the Washington Redskins in the 2011 NFL Draft out of the University of Miami. Hankerson has 31 career starts and 81 receptions for 1,081 yards and six touchdowns.
The former Hurricane has had a rough time with unfortunate injuries. First, he had his rookie season cut short due to a hip injury that required him to have it surgically repaired. After having his best year in 2012, the following season he suffered a torn ACL and LCL, ending his season.
Some may ask: “What exactly will Leonard Hankerson bring to an Atlanta Falcons squad that went 6-10 last year?”
The answer is that he will bring determination and a great work ethic. No one works harder than Hankerson… he recovered in just a year after suffering that serious knee injury.
While it’s true that he only played in one game in 2014, it’s also true that in Washington there was a log jam at his position with Andre Roberts being signed as well as standout receiver DeSean Jackson. The “U” product’s lack of playing time had nothing to do with a shortage of talent or motivation. The NFL can be a ‘what have you done for me lately?’ kind of league… as quickly a player gets here, he can be forgotten if he is unlucky enough to sustain a few serious injuries.
Another positive is that Hankerson will have some familiarity with former Redskins’ offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan serving in the same capacity with the Falcons now. Under Shanahan, Hankerson will be able to thrive in this offense and be a real threat alongside fellow wide outs Julio Jones and Roddy White. If used as a slot receiver, he could create a real problem for opposing team’s defenses. At his size, he is a huge target on third downs and in the red zone. Other than Jones and White, all other Falcons wide receivers are less than six feet tall.
Atlanta signed Hankerson to a one year $1M deal. This is a great incentive for him. He is hungry and ready to show the world and the Falcons why he belongs in NFL.