Leonard Hankerson: Becoming The Falcons' 3rd Receiver

The Leonard Hankerson signing was an intriguing front office move made by Atlanta Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff in the offseason. Hank spent his entire four-year with the Washington Redskins organization as an often injured 4th receiver.

But the Atlanta Falcons needed to find a replacement for longtime slot receiver Harry Douglas now with the Tennessee Titans. Atlanta brought in Leonard Hankerson who is familiar with new OC Kyle Shanahan’s system from their time together with the Washington Redskins. Hank came in to compete with KR/WR Devin Hester and rookie WR Justin Hardy out of East Carolina for 3rd on the Falcons’ receiving depth chart behind Julio Jones and Roddy White.

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Through the first two preseason games, I would say that Leonard Hankerson is very much in the lead for that third receiver option for QB Matt Ryan in Shanahan’s offense. Since Hester is best known for his Hall of Fame worthy return skills, anything Shanahan gets from Devin in the receiving corps is really an added bonus. Justin Hardy has not turned heads with his play as I had hoped for in the first two preseason games. His route running needs some edge to it to shake off pesky defenders in the slot. Ceasing dropped passes would help out Hardy, too.

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Perhaps it’s his familiarity with the scheme or his want to prove to the league that he’s a great player when healthy, but Leonard Hankerson has been the second best receiver on the Atlanta Falcons this preseason behind only Julio Jones. Hank has made plays in space and helped move the chains for whichever quarterback is throwing him the ball.

I knew that Hankerson had good skills in the vertical passing game, but I’m a little surprised to see him play this well in the slot. His awareness and deception on his 2-yard touchdown catch against the New York Jets last Saturday night was a thing of beauty. Though the touchdown was great as they all are, Hank’s pre-snap disguise of his intentions completely through off the Jets in the red zone for an easy score.

Initially I thought that Justin Hardy would overtake Leonard Hankerson midway through the 2015 Season for third on the depth chart, but with what I’ve seen in the preseason I’m not so sure anymore. The learning curve seems a little steeper for Hardy than I originally thought and I didn’t see Hank as a receiver that could replace Douglas’ production alone.

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However it shakes out between Hankerson, Hardy, and Hester, Matt Ryan will have plenty of targets to deliver the football to in 2015. If the season were to start today, Leonard Hankerson gets the starting gig in the slot for the Atlanta Falcons. Hester is the fourth option and Hardy needs to improve from fifth, though I am sure that he will.

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Leonard Hankerson: Becoming The Falcons’ 3rd Receiver

By John Buhler | Aug 26, 2015

The Leonard Hankerson signing was an intriguing front office move made by Atlanta Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff in the offseason. Hank spent his entire four-year with the Washington Redskins organization as an often injured 4th receiver.

More from ATL All Day