By JOSH DUBOW | Associated Press
The Las Vegas Raiders signed quarterback Nick Mullens on Monday to back up Derek Carr and brought back defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins for a fifth season with the team.
Mullens made 16 starts for the 49ers after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He started one game last year for the Browns after leaving San Francisco in free agency. He gives the Raiders an experienced backup after Marcus Mariota left for Atlanta in free agency.
Mullens made his debut on national television in 2018 against the Raiders when he went 16 for 22 for 263 yards, three TDs and a 151.9 passer rating in a 34-3 win. He also made his only start last season for the Browns against Las Vegas, going 20 for 30 for 147 yards and one TD in a 16-14 Cleveland loss.
He started eight games that year, then didn’t throw a pass in 2019 when the 49ers made their Super Bowl run with Jimmy Garoppolo healthy all season. In 2020, Garoppolo injured his ankle, so Mullens started eight games again, though he was less effective than in his rookie season.
The Mississippi State product has completed 64.6% of his passes over his career, with 26 TD passes, 22 interceptions and an 87.3 passer rating. He averages 7.7 yards per attempt and averaged 267.8 yards passing in his 17 starts.
The Raiders also brought back Johnathan Hankins for a fifth season.
Hankins has been an anchor on the defensive line since joining the Raiders in 2018 and has been one of the team’s better run defenders inside.
The 30-year-old Hankins has started 60 of 65 games since joining the Raiders. He has 172 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, two passes defensed and three fumble recoveries during that time.
Hankins was originally drafted in the second round out of Ohio State by the New York Giants in 2013 and spent his first four seasons there before playing in Indianapolis in 2017.
Over his nine-year career, Hankins has played in 128 games with 356 tackles, 14 1/2 sacks, 36 tackles for loss, nine passes defensed, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
New Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham was Hankins’ position coach in 2016 with the New York Giants.
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