The Chicago Bears have plenty of big free agent decisions to make looking towards 2022. No fewer than 27 players will be unrestricted free agents next March. That puts a lot of pressure on GM Ryan Pace to figure out how best to proceed without a limitless supply of cap space. Perhaps the most difficult decision will be what to do with Akiem Hicks.
There is no doubt the defensive end has been the heart and soul of this defense since he arrived in 2016. Not just a great leader but a tone-setter on the field. He brings the juice. Hicks can stop the run and is one of the most underrated interior pass rushers in the NFL. Guys like that are hard to find. The problem with Hicks is his age. He turns 32-years old in November. Everybody knows that giving extensions to older players is dangerous. Just look at Robert Quinn and Danny Trevathan as recent examples.
There is no telling when the true regression will come.
Combine that with other players likely taking priority on the money front like Allen Robinson, Roquan Smith, Bilal Nichols, and James Daniels? It could prove challenging for the Bears to work something out. Yet it’s impossible to deny that Hicks is still such a valued part of their front seven. He made it clear recently that he wants to stay in Chicago. What would such a deal even look like. Cap expert Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus provided an idea.
“Projected contract: Three years, $39 million ($13M APY), $24.5 million total guaranteed
Hicks’ four-year, $48 million deal signed in Chicago was one of the best free agent signings of the past five years.
This reality makes things difficult from a business perspective, with Hicks’ 72.7 2020 pass-rush grade the second-best mark of his career, showing he still has some juice left in the tank. His 2020 pressure percentage of 10.6% and 16 quarterback hits were the highest of his career, and his pass-rush win percentage of 14.4% was also the second-best of his career.
The Bears currently have the most 2021 cap space in the NFL dedicated to their defensive line (around $62 million), and they’re already projected to have the second-most cap space dedicated to the defensive line in 2022 without Hicks under contract. Nevertheless, Hicks may be too valuable to this club to not keep him around.”
That is a lot of money for a player his age. Much of this depends on how Hicks plays this season. If he has another of his typical strong years? Then he’ll be in a position to demand that kind of money. Would the Bears pay it? That is difficult to envision. However, if the veteran were willing to take something a little more team-friendly, then perhaps he can get his wish to stay in Chicago.
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OH MY GOD. Akiem Hicks almost killed Matt Ryan. They didn't show a replay so I'm not sure if anyone saw it.
Hicks hit Ryan so hard he left the ground. 😲 pic.twitter.com/Ksc60lzeYF
— Joe Tidei (@JoeyRedZone) September 29, 2020
Akiem Hicks with the double swipe/rip. Great job using the rip to peel the OL's resetting hand off of him. If you beat the hands, you beat the man! #passrush #bears pic.twitter.com/DPUKBeuEdZ
— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) October 7, 2020
Akiem Hicks may suffer from recent Bears misfires
As mentioned before, the contracts handed to Trevathan and Quinn have to be stinging the Bears right now. Quinn had two sacks last season and Trevathan is starting this season on Injured Reserve. Such mistakes might cause Pace to think twice about offering another long-term contract to an older player. Even one as revered as Hicks. Smarter teams know when it’s time to say goodbye.
Much of this also depends on Nichols. The Bears have high hopes for the former 5th round pick going into his fourth season. Last year was the best yet of his career, racking up 5.5 sacks. With Eddie Goldman back in the middle, he won’t have to focus as much on stopping the run. Add in the motivation for a new contract? This could end up being a true breakout year for him. If it is?
The Bears will focus on extending him.
Akiem Hicks can’t afford to be greedy in this situation. If he is chasing one more nice payday? Then he will likely have to find it elsewhere. Chicago looks more and more like they’re going to focus their resources on building around Justin Fields. So if he wants to stay, he’ll have to go easy on his demands. Fans would love for him to stay, but not at the cost of the team doing what they must for the future.