Star Evaluation: Could James Hanna Be Ready To Shed Blocking-TE Label?

Feb 15, 2018 at 07:25 AM

Nick Eatman

DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer / Senior Manager, Digital Media

While free agency officially begins in March, roster turnover isn't too far away. The Cowboys will indeed add and presumably release players, along with letting some go without a new contract.

However, the majority of the 2018 roster is already in place. In the coming weeks, the staff of DallasCowboys.com will preview those players, analyzing where they've been and where they're going.

Today, we'll continue the series with tight end James Hanna.

1 / 50

2 / 50

10 September 2017: James Hanna (84)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 1 regular season 19-3 win over the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

3 / 50

New York Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) and Dallas Cowboys tight end James Hanna (84) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Michael Ainsworth/AP Images

4 / 50

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

5 / 50

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

6 / 50

17 September 2017: James Hanna (84)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their week 2 regular season 42-17 loss to the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

7 / 50

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

8 / 50

25 September 2017: James Hanna (84)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their week 3 regular season 28-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

9 / 50

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

10 / 50

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) and Dallas Cowboys tight end James Hanna (84) get set as Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Markus Golden (44) rushes during the 2017 NFL week 3 regular season football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cowboys won the game 28-17. (Paul Spinelli via AP)

Paul Spinelli/AP Images

11 / 50

01 October 2017: James Hanna (84)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 4 regular season 35-30 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

12 / 50

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

13 / 50

14 / 50

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

15 / 50

16 / 50

Dallas Cowboys tight end James Hanna (84) scores a touchdown after catching a pass during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

Ron Jenkins/AP Images

17 / 50

Dallas Cowboys tight end James Hanna (84) celebrates catching a touchdown pass in front of Los Angeles Rams safety Maurice Alexander (31) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)

Roger Steinman/AP Images

18 / 50

Los Angeles Rams' Samson Ebukam (50) walks away as Dallas Cowboys tight end James Hanna (84), Travis Frederick, center, and Zack Martin, rear, celebrate a touchdown catch by Hanna during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

Ron Jenkins/AP Images

19 / 50

Dallas Cowboys tight end James Hanna (84) and center Travis Frederick (72) celebrate after a score during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (NFL Photos via AP)

NFL Photos/AP Images

20 / 50

Dallas Cowboys tight end James Hanna (84) runs route as Los Angeles Rams linebacker Samson Ebukam (50) defends during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)

Roger Steinman/AP Images

21 / 50

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Switzer (10) runs the ball behind tight end James Hanna (84) against the Los Angeles Rams in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Michael Ainsworth/AP Images

22 / 50

08 October 2017: James Hanna (84)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 5 regular season 35-31 loss to the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

23 / 50

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

24 / 50

22 October 2017: James Hanna (84)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their week 7 regular season 40-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

25 / 50

Dallas Cowboys players James Hanna (84), Terrance Williams (83), Ezekiel Elliott (21), and Brice Butler (19) stand at attention during the national anthem before a 2017 NFL week 8 regular season game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017 in Landover, Md. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins, 33-19. (James D. Smith via AP)

James D. Smith/AP Images

26 / 50

28 October 2017: James Hanna of the Dallas Cowboys departing for their game at the Washington Redskins at DFW Airport, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

27 / 50

29 October 2017: James Hanna (84)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their week 8 regular season 33-19 win over the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

28 / 50

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

29 / 50

05 November 2017: James Hanna (84)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 9 regular season game 28-17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

30 / 50

12 November 2017: James Hanna (84)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 10 regular season 27-7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

31 / 50

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

32 / 50

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

33 / 50

19 November 2017: James Hanna (84)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 11 regular season 37-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

34 / 50

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

35 / 50

©James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

36 / 50

Dallas Cowboys tight end James Hanna (84) walks along the team bench area during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

Ron Jenkins/AP Images

37 / 50

23 November 2017: James Hanna (84)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 12 regular season 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

38 / 50

39 / 50

10 December 2017: James Hanna (84)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 14 regular season 30-10 win over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

40 / 50

41 / 50

42 / 50

43 / 50

17 December 2017: James Hanna (84)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 15 regular season 20-17 win over the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

44 / 50

45 / 50

Dallas Cowboys tight end James Hanna (84) is tackled by Oakland Raiders free safety Reggie Nelson (27) and cornerback Sean Smith (21) during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Ben Margot/AP Images

46 / 50

47 / 50

24 December 2017: James Hanna (84)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 16 regular season 21-12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The award was accepted by Michelle Witten and family. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

48 / 50

49 / 50

31 December 2017: James Hanna (84)
of the Dallas Cowboys during their NFL week 17 regular season 6-0 win over the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo by James D. Smith/Dallas Cowboys

50 / 50

Advertising

This Ad will close in 3

What's Been Good:

When he gets the ball – at least in 2017 – good things happened. Hanna only caught four passes, but averaged 22.0 yards a catch and all of them went for at least 13 yards. So for a "blocking-oriented" tight end, Hanna at least gets somewhat down the field when he gets the ball.

What's Been Bad:

However, he's not getting the ball that often. Four catches during a season is definitely a small sample-size to say he can be a difference-maker. If anything, opposing defenses don't anticipate him getting the ball much at all, and have left him open at times when the Cowboys have gone to him. If it became more of a regular thing, he might not surprise teams as much. But to be fair to Hanna, his role has never been to be a primary pass-catcher, especially with Jason Witten always ahead of him.

2017 Highlight:

With the Cowboys trying to get back in the game against the Rams in Week 4, Hanna found himself wide open and Dak Prescott found him as well, connecting on a 28-yard touchdown. It was Hanna's first and only score of his career.

What's Next:

Hanna enters the final year of his second contract with the Cowboys. He's scheduled to count $3.5 million on the salary cap, with $2.75 million in base salary. Seemingly, if the Cowboys had better options at tight end, assuming they drafted a tight end in the early-to-mid rounds, they could part ways with Hanna, maybe in a trade and would still save money on the cap. Then again, Hanna has been a serviceable player on both offense and special teams and that cap charge isn't too outlandish for a player who can fill several needs. It's likely Hanna returns again in 2018 as one of Jason Witten's backups and maybe a player who showed last year he warrants more than four catches a season.

I have always respected James Hanna's game. For years he's been the stunt man for this club doing the jobs that others wouldn't attempt. His assignments were never limited to one specific area whether it's inline work or on the move. What has allowed him to have success has been his athletic ability coupled with his desire to finish as a blocker. He is technique sound and rarely in bad position. As a player, he is as reliable as they come when asked to secure his man. Where he doesn't get enough credit is as a receiver. Last season was the first where it appeared that the staff got him more involved. There were several snaps where his concentration level and hands were outstanding. In my opinion what has been holding him back was his knee. As good as he's been at times, his knee hasn't allowed him to reach his full potential. The training staff helped him in 2016 and we saw better things from him following that. For James Hanna's sake, let's hope that trend continues.

click for more Star Evaluations

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.