On this page
Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign defensive lineman Akiem Hicks to 1 - Year Contract
Introduction
On Wednesday, May 31st, 2022 the former Chicago Bears quality veteran defensive tackle, Akiem Hicks, has signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
All of the official terms and conditions of this new agreement were not disclosed to the public yet, but according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Hicks received a 1 - year deal worth up to approximately $10 million.
Ndamukong Suh may be Leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The new addition of Hicks' will most likely result in the end of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh’s, time in Tampa with the Buccaneers. Suh also just so happens to be an unrestricted free agent heading into the upcoming 2022 - 2023 season of the National Football League. Hicks will now provide the Tampa Bay Bucs the veteran presence on their defensive line that Suh had delivered the last 3 - seasons in Tampa, Florida.
Hicks NFL History
The 2021 - 2022 NFL season was quite disappointing for Akiem, who battled both a groin injury as well as an ankle injury throughout the past football season. Throughout his 9 - football games last year, Hicks racked - up 3.5 - sacks, 5 - tackles for a loss, and 9 - quarterback hits too. Over the duration of the last 3 - seasons, injuries have forced Akiem to miss - out on a total of 20 - games.
The now 32 - years - old Hicks, was a highly - sought - after free-agent signing by the former Chicago Bears general manager in Ryan Pace, and he signed a 2 - year deal with the Chicago Bears back in 2016. After Akiem accumulated 7 - sacks and 54 - tackles throughout his 1st - season with the Chicago Bears, his former NFL franchise extended him a 4 - year contract extension worth up to around $48 million back in 2017 which kept Hicks with the Chicago Bears through the previous 2021 - 2022 NFL season.
Hicks was a highly - productive defenseman in Chicago with the Bears during him over 6 - seasons with that legendry and historic franchise in the Chicago Bears. He was amongst the very best run - stoppers in the league. Hicks made the NFL Pro Bowl back in 2018, and Akiem was a significant core member of a Chicago Bears defense that led the Chicago Bears back to the NFL playoffs a few years ago. In his 16 - games that years, Hicks compiled 7.5 - sacks, 12 - tackles for a loss, and 16 - quarterback hits.
Hicks has a total of 40.5 - sacks, 387 - tackles, and 6 - forced fumbles throughout his long and illustrious 10 - seasons in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears from 2016 to 2021, the New England Patriots in 2015, and the New Orleans Saints early on in his NFL career from his rookie season in 2012 to 2015.
Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards
- NFL Pro Bowl Selection (2018)
- Named to the list of 100 greatest Chicago Bears of All - Time
Sources:
“Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign DT Akiem Hicks to one - year deal”, espn.com, May 31, 2022.
“Akiem Hicks”, pro-football-reference.com, June 3, 2022.
“Akiem Hicks”, spotrac.com, June 3, 2022.