Buccaneers Rumors: Akiem Hicks Agrees to 1-Year Contract Worth Up to $10M

The veteran defensive end agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million with the Buccaneers, according to a report.

His four-year, $48 million deal with the Chicago Bears was due to expire at the end of the season, so it was a bad time for him.

The Pro Bowler missed a large part of the year because of injuries. He had 25 tackles, 3.5 sacks and five tackles for loss in nine games.

According to The Athletic's Adam Jahns, Hicks was involved in some drama behind the scenes during the final stretch of the regular season.

"According to a source, Hicks had a dispute with defensive line coach Chris Rumph during and after the game against the Giants at Soldier Field. It was characterized as 'heated and ugly.' Coaches, teammates and staff members witnessed the exchange. Hicks' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, did not return an email request for comment. A Bears spokesman confirmed Hicks' ankle injury."

The earning power of the 32-year-old was going to decline over the next few years because of the injuries he sustained.

Chicago missed the playoffs for the second time in three years, and long-simmering frustration may have risen to the fore.

The return to the Bears seemed unlikely based on the details of the report. A new head coach may have meant a clean slate.

He needs a change of scenery to return to form.

In the last two years, he had 27 tackles for loss and 16 sacks. He was a second-team All-Pro by Pro Football Focus in a year in which the Bears boasted one of the most imposing defenses.

He had an elbow injury that limited him to five appearances in 2019. His production of 49 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2020 was less than the previous standard he set.

In March, Pro Football Focus ranked Hicks as the 18th-best player on the market.

"We're a few years removed from Hicks' elite 2018 season that saw him rank fourth among interior defensive linemen in overall grade (91.7). He has otherwise been an above-average run defender and pass-rusher, though we've seen some decline in his game as he gets into his 30s."

Questions will linger about his durability and how the mileage he has absorbed already will affect his game until he makes it through another regular season unscathed.

As long as he can stay healthy, he should be a valuable member of the defensive line. He has a good track record against the run and has pressured the quarterback, but he might be motivated to redeem himself after a disappointing Bears run.

This almost certainly means that Suh won't be coming back to the team after spending the previous three years with the team. Replacing Suh with Hicks will be a net upgrade for the team and will strengthen the defensive line centered around Vea.