Chicago Bears should look to extend Akiem Hicks prior to 2017 season
The Chicago Bears should look to lock in defensive lineman Akiem Hicks for the long-term prior to the 2017 season.
Last offseason, the Chicago Bears signed defensive lineman Akiem Hicks to a two-year contract worth $10 million. Hicks was coming off of a season where he was traded to the New England Patriots and played well down the stretch in a limited role. He always seemed to have massive upside up front, but never got a full-time opportunity to prove it.
The Bears gave Hicks that full opportunity last season and he quickly became a massive part of their defensive unit. Starting in all 16 games for the Bears, Hicks piled up seven sacks on the season. He was an impact player for the team both against the run and the pass from his 3-4 defensive end position.
At 6-foot-5, 336 pounds, Hicks is a massive man with a ton of natural power. He also shows great quickness and athleticism as an interior pass rusher. Hicks’ combination of power and quickness is special. Make no mistake about it, Hicks has big-time long-term upside for the Bears up front. After his dominant 2016 season, Hicks enters 2017 as a massive value for the Chicago Bears.
Last year of his deal
That being said, after only signing a two-year deal last offseason, Hicks is set to hit free agency after the 2017 season. His $6.2 million cap hit (according to Spotrac) is a great value for the upcoming year, but it is not really doing the Bears any good.
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They have plenty of room under the cap and are not expected to compete for anything significant in 2017. The 2018 season and beyond is what is most important for the Chicago Bears. They are undoubtedly going to want Hicks around for those years. For that reason, they should look to lock him up before the upcoming season starts.
With their current cap space (more than $28 million, according to Spotrac), the Bears could easily give Hicks a raise for 2017. In return, they could tack on a few years after (obviously at a higher price than his last contract) that could save them money down the line.
Short-term loss for massive long-term gain
The Bears do not have to give Hicks an immediate raise. However, doing so would likely increase the chances of him accepting a contract extension. The Bears would essentially be taking a short-term financial loss. For their troubles, Hicks would ideally be more willing to sign a long-term deal. If Hicks dominates in 2017, he is going to get a huge payday on the open market. If the Bears allow this to happen, they could lose an important piece to their defense.
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Instead, the Bears would be wise to take the short-term loss and lock him up for the long-term. They have the cap space for 2017 to pull it off anyway.