10 of 10

Elsa/Getty Images

Johnathan Hankins is looking to get paid in free agency this year.

P-A-I-D...paid.

According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, the 24-year-old defensive tackle is believed to be seeking a multi-year deal that pays in excess of $8 million a season.

Jordan Ranaan of ESPN tweeted that number is higher still—over $10 million a year.

Of course, what Hankins wants and what he'll be able to get aren't necessarily the same thing. And with free agency two weeks old and Hankins still available, Ranaan believes the stage may be set for a return to the Giants even after the team handed over $60 million to Jason Pierre-Paul.

"Every day that Johnathan Hankins remains unsigned," he wrote, "the odds increase that he returns to the Giants. I would put it at about 50-50 right now. A market isn't going to all of a sudden emerge if it's not there right now.

"It certainly helps that the Giants have more money available than last week with an estimated $11 million under the salary cap. They made an offer to Hankins earlier in this process that was not accepted," Ranaan continued. "It's possible that offer still sits on the table, or more likely that Hankins realizes he's not getting the mega-deal he expected and decides the best place for him is to return to a potentially dominant Giants defensive front. There, he can shine on a one-year deal and re-enter free agency next year in position to land that desirable long-term deal."

It isn't that Hankins isn't a talented young three-technique. In 2014, Hankins piled up seven sacks and ranked sixth among all defensive tackles at PFF. He missed almost half the season the following year but still graded out inside the top 20.

However, there have been downs to go with the ups. Hankins played in all 16 games for the Giants last year, but his PFF grade fell dramatically to leave him outside the top 50.

In other words, while Hankins has shown the potential to be an elite DT, he doesn't necessarily deserve to be paid like one yet.

Even if he's the top free agent left.