The New York Giants have competition. The mystery team that I’ve heard lingering for the past week or so in the running for defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins has finally been revealed. It is the Indianapolis Colts.

Hankins visited Indianapolis on Tuesday, multiple sources told ESPN. It adds to his free-agent options.

The Colts have a need. They recently released defensive lineman Art Jones and have uncertainty with David Parry because of legal issues. They also have money. Indianapolis is almost $32 million under the salary cap. That appeals to Hankins in his search for an acceptable deal.

Did free agent Johnathan Hankins gain negotiating leverage on the Giants by visiting with the Colts on Tuesday? Andrew Weber/USA TODAY Sports

The talks between Hankins’ team and the Colts were serious enough to prompt a visit. With the way the Colts and new general manager Chris Ballard have been going about their business, there is likely a one-year offer on the table, which should at least give Hankins some leverage.

Hankins, 25, now officially has options. This could complicate things for the Giants, who have been optimistic that he returns to a defense they have tried to keep together after showing so much promise late last year. They want him back.

“We still very much like him on our team,” co-owner John Mara told reporters recently at the NFL owners meetings. “He's a good player, really good kid. He adds a lot to our team. Hopefully we'll get it worked out. But I have no idea whether that will happen or not."

The Giants made an offer to Hankins prior to the start of free agency. It hasn’t changed. The long-term deal remains on the table.

But Hankins was looking for more. Much more. He was asking for well over $10 million per season in a long-term deal at the start of free agency.

That never materialized. It has forced Hankins to sit and wait, with little buzz for his services. Multiple league executives told ESPN recently they believe that Hankins will ultimately be forced to settle for a one-year deal, much like defensive tackles Dontari Poe took with the Atlanta Falcons and Bennie Logan received from the Kansas City Chiefs. The market spoke, and it wasn’t what many of the free-agent defensive tackles were hoping to hear.

This is ultimately what Hankins will have to decide: Should he take the one-year deal from, say, the Colts or another team, or the long-term deal on the table from the Giants, which is believed to be worth well less than $10 million per season.

Either way, the Giants have competition. The Colts are in the mix. The Miami Dolphins have also shown interest in signing Hankins to a one-year deal, and there are likely others quietly willing to do the same on a one-year “prove-it” contract.

Hankins is a solid, young player who can start on just about every team. He had 43 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble on a defense that was one of the most difficult in the NFL to run against last season. His skill set can help more than just the Giants.

And now it’s more than just the Giants trying to secure his services.