Chicago Bears: Bold predictions for 2018 (Part 1)

3. Akiem Hicks will be an All-Pro

Let’s just throw it out there from the start: Hicks should have made an All-Pro team and Pro Bowl last year.

I can think of no reason that he didn’t make those teams other than that the Bears were bad and no one respected them. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t recognize stellar play on those teams, but that’s how it goes.

With the Chicago Bears poised to make a leap this year, he’ll be harder to ignore if that pans out.

Few probably imagined that Hicks would dominate so thoroughly after coming in mainly as a two-down space-eating run-stopper in 2016.

Of course, he has lived up to those expectations brilliantly, don’t get it twisted. But his pure dominance in the trenches and his ruthless pass rush surpassed all projections.

This man is a 3-4 defensive end that just led his team with 8.5 sacks. You don’t see that every day.

Now, Hicks still needs guys to step up around him, which will require health and some key production.

Leonard Floyd really has to play a full season (more on him later). Aaron Lynch and whatever young stud pass rushers the Bears draft have to make big contributions. And Jonathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris absolutely must take a step forward opposite him.

Those factors will make or break the Bears’ defense as a potentially elite unit next season.

That said, they won’t hinder Hicks on his way to rampaging through opposing offenses once more and finally getting the recognition he deserves on an improved Chicago Bears team.