Chicago Bears fans knew Akiem Hicks was a stud basically from the moment he arrived. There was optimism he’d be good. He overcame being traded from New Orleans for poor play to rebound in New England. Then it was felt under Vic Fangio he could develop into a solid starter. Nobody at the time realized GM Ryan Pace had just secured one of the biggest free agent steals maybe in franchise history.
Hicks has 23 sacks over the past three seasons without missing a single game. He also has 38 tackles for a loss, showcasing his equal dominance as a run defender. The fact the Bears got this guy initially for a $10 million deal? Unreal. Yet it took a lot longer for the NFL to catch on. For two years despite his excellent play, he was rarely acknowledged. Not until 2018 did he finally get an overdue trip to the Pro Bowl.
It didn’t stop there though. The annual NFL Top 100 series debuted with Kyle Fuller breaking the Bears’ drought of two years without a single player present at #95. From there it was quiet again for 51 spots until Hicks emerged at #39. When asked if he felt he was a top 100 guy in the league, the defensive end had the type of response that’s come to be expected of him.
Akiem Hicks has no plans to shed that status anytime soon
Hicks is still just 29-years old. He also didn’t get a lot of playing time when he was younger. So his body hasn’t endured the pounding someone of his age typically would. It’s safe to feel like he has a few good years left to go before things start slowing down. This is perfect for the Bears who view him as a centerpiece for one of their best defenses constructed in years. If he can string together four or five more seasons like he’s had? Don’t be surprised if he starts getting some Hall of Fame buzz.
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Especially if the Bears can bring home a championship.
That is the one thing the Saints are praying doesn’t happen. They don’t want to be viewed as the franchise that gave away a Hall of Fame player for a backup tight end. Not to mention the Patriots don’t want to be known as a team that gave up a Hall of Fame player because they were a little too cheap. Either way, Hicks’ mission is clear. Keep eating, keep leading, and get the Bears to where they haven’t been in far too long.
On top of the NFL mountain.
