The Tampa Bay D-line went from good to monstrous with the addition of former Bear Akiem Hicks on Tuesday. JustinM_NFL says the signing could prove to be a massive addition for a Bucs franchise that could win Super Bowl LVII. FrontOffice33 | GoBucs
did last season. The Buccaneers won’t ask Hicks to play 90-plus percent of snaps on a weekly basis, and that leans favorably to keeping an aging Hicks fresh and healthy. The onus would still be placed on Hicks to prove he’s gotten past his nagging injuries while maintaining his overall effectiveness.
Speaking of, health is the big question mark surrounding Hicks, who played just nine games in 2021, recording 3.5 sacks and just nine quarterback hits while nursing various neck and groin injuries throughout the majority of the campaign. Injury concerns aren’t exactly a recent reveal for Hicks, who has appeared in just 20 of the past 49 contests and is entering his age 33 season.
This deal carries multiple ramifications. Most notably, it likely spells the end for unrestricted free agentin Tampa Bay, with Hicks expected to fill Suh’s previous role. Suh and his representation have failed to reach a middle ground with the Bucs in regards to his worth this offseason. Suh played last season on a one-year deal worth $9 million and is likely searching for similar compensation in 2022.
It also further cements a period of transition for Hicks’ former team. He spent the previous six seasons with the Bears and will go down as a Chicago legend. Throughout that successful era, Hicks was a consistent thorn in the backside of opposing NFC North quarterbacks, totaling 31.0 sacks as a Bear. New Chicago Bears General Manager