Chicago Bears defensive tackle Akiem Hicks will enter unrestricted free agency in the upcoming offseason at the conclusion of his four-year contract with the team. His 2021 campaign was marred by groin and ankle injuries which limited him to play nine games where he recorded 25 combined tackles and 3.5 sacks.
Hicks recently hinted that he wanted to retire with the Bears organization, per NBC Sports. However, it might not be sustainable for a rebuilding team to continue paying huge money to a player like him who is often injured. They may opt to use those funds to land a younger talent or invest in other position groups on their roster instead.
Additionally, Hicks is also nowhere near the player that he once was as his level of play has evidently regressed since 2018 after suffering various injuries in recent years. Despite his inability to stay healthy, the 32-year-old remains to be a valuable player who can elevate any defensive front that he will be joining moving forward.
With that said, let's take a look at the three best landing spots for Akiem Hicks in the upcoming NFL free agency.
Akiem Hicks Free Agency Landing Spots
The Las Vegas Raiders already have two solid pass-rushers in Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue. However, they still have to upgrade the interior of their defensive line which can be in the form of DT Akiem Hicks.
He might be a little bit older as compared to Crosby and Ngakoue but he can still be a vital contributor in helping them limit opposing QBs and improve their run defense. Luckily, the Raiders are finding themselves in a favorable position as they still have around $20 million available in cap space for 2022.
Hicks could form a potent defensive line along with Crosby and Ngakoue in a bid to lead the Raiders to another playoff run next season.
The Buffalo Bills' defense had a relatively solid performance throughout the 2021 season. However, they can potentially lose two key linemen in Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison who are both set to be unrestricted free agents.
Additionally, it remains to be seen if Hughes will continue to play next season as he is already 33 years old. Given their situation, it would be logical for the Bills to find a talented player in Akiem Hicks to fill in the possible void for next season.
They might just have to wish that the former Pro Bowler can stay healthy in order for them to maximize his skillsets on the field. Currently, the Bills are $2 million over the cap space though they can get more room by restructuring some of their contracts.
Hicks' potential arrival to a contender like the Bills will definitely give him a good chance to win a ring, especially in the twilight stage of his career.
The most promising landing spot for Akiem Hicks in 2022 would be the Los Angeles Chargers. The team always had gaps in their interior defense and it was evident when they struggled to defend the run for the most part of last season.
With Hicks, they will be able to get a player who can hold his ground against double teams and work his way towards getting into the backfield to stop the run. His veteran presence in the locker room is also a huge plus for a team like the Chargers that narrowly missed the playoffs in 2021.
Above all, Akiem Hicks' potential arrival in Los Angeles will link him to a familiar face in head coach Brandon Staley who served as the outside linebackers coach for the Bears in 2017-18. With the Chargers having around $57 million to spend in the offseason, it wouldn't be hard for them to make a solid case in the Hicks sweepstakes for 2022.
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