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Bills Sign Wide Receiver Leonard Hankerson

By Dennis Moody

Oct 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) and wide receiver Leonard Hankerson (85) before a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) and wide receiver Leonard Hankerson (85) before a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Buffalo Bills have signed Leonard Hankerson to a one-year deal.

According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport the Buffalo Bills have signed Leonard Hankerson to a one-year contract. Details of how much he will be paid were not disclosed but it’s likely at or near the veteran minimum.

Hankerson also confirms the news in his twitter profile. It’s hilarious that he references his short stint with the Patriots before joining the Bills last season.

This was not surprising at all as it was announced recently on BuffaloBills.com that the team was “really close” to signing him in an article by

John Murphy

.

Bills have signed Leonard Hankerson
Bills have signed Leonard Hankerson /

Murphy quoted Whaley as saying:

"“We’re really close to getting a deal done with Leonard Hankerson. We’re going to have a collection of guys who have had experience in the league, and have produced in the league.”"

Hankerson will compete with front-runner Robert Woods, and seven other receivers on the Bills roster for their WR2 and WR3 roles. Buffalo Bills star wide receiver Sammy Watkins is their clear WR1.

Those other seven receivers on the roster are Jarrett Boykin, Marcus Easley, Marquise Goodwin, Dezmin Lewis, Greg Little, Walter Powell, and Greg Salas. Only five or six of these players are expected to still be on the team when the season starts.

The Bills could even add more competition to the group if Percy Harvin decides that he wants to return to the team at an affordable price. If Harvin came back he would be the favorite for the WR2 role.

Hankerson was a third-round draft pick by Washington. He is 6’2″ and ran a 4.43 forty time in 2011. He has good size and speed and that is why the Bills were interested in him.

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His best season came in 2012 when he had 38 catches on 57 targets for 543 yards while scoring 3 touchdowns. Not exactly “eye-popping” statistics but if utilized in the right role it’s possible for Hankerson to be an effective member of the Buffalo Bills next season.

It’s going to be a brutal fight in training camp to get reps at wide receiver with all these players on the roster but Hankerson is going to need to do his best to stand out now that he signed with the team.

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