Why DT Akiem Hicks should be top-priority, free agent for Chargers

Acquiring Akiem Hicks would go a long way to improving the Chargers’ defensive line.

The Chargers finished 30th in run defense, and the issues fell on the defensive line personnel and its inability to hold its own in that department on a consistent basis.

For that reason, the team will make the point to upgrade the unit this offseason. Slated to have $70 million after cuts are made, Los Angeles should be aggressive in free agency, and one of its targets should be Akiem Hicks.

Hicks, 31, has a previous connection with head coach Brandon Staley. The two spent time together with the Bears when Staley was the outside linebackers coach from 2017-18.

At 6-foot-5 and 324 pounds, Hicks is a solid all-around interior defender who plays with tremendous leverage, power, and lateral movements to get into the backfield and the strength to stand his own against double teams.

Hicks clears the guard with a two-hand swipe to rip move and shows excellent movement skills to turn the corner and flatten to the quarterback for the sack.

Hick starts with the long-arms and converts that to power to bull rush the guard all the way into Kirk Cousins.

Hicks gets extended, shows good lateral movement, controls his man while displaying eye discipline to find flow in the backfield. Once Dalvin Cook gets vertical, Hicks violently sheds the guard and makes the tackle for no gain.

While stopping the run is the primary focus, affecting the quarterback from the interior is just as crucial, and Hicks has over 50 pressures in three seasons, with his most recent coming in 2020.

Hicks has dealt with some injuries throughout his lengthy career, but it hasn’t hindered him enough to keep him from producing when he is on the field. He played over 800 snaps in each season in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020.

Hicks, the 10-year veteran, has 387 total tackles, 73 tackles for loss, 40.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles throughout his career.

Having a player who can rush the passer just as well as he defends the run and a veteran presence in the defensive line room, like Hicks, will go a long way to improving the group next season.

Trading for DT Akiem Hicks could pay dividends for Chargers

Highlighting how the Chargers could fix their run defense woes.

The Chargers are stout in nearly all areas, but the run defense stands out as a glaring weakness. The unit is dead last in this category, allowing 157.6 yards per game.

In specific, the interior part of the defensive line has been the culprit. The group doesn’t possess enough talent to consistently hold its own at the point of attack. This has created big holes for ball carriers to run freely through.

Los Angeles has been able to mask it with their high-powered offense and ability to limit the pass, but the team can’t expect to let it slide any further if they want to make a deep run.

A player that would go a long way to fixing the woes is defensive tackle Akiem Hicks.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bears permitted Hicks to find a trade partner after free agency began. The Chargers were among the teams that monitored the situation into the preseason.

Hicks, 31, has a previous connection with head coach Brandon Staley. The two spent time together in Chicago when Staley was the outside linebackers coach from 2017-18.

Hicks, the 11-year veteran, has 232 total tackles, 47 tackles for loss, 28 sacks, and five forced fumbles in his time as a Bear.

At 6-foot-5 and 324 pounds, Hicks is a solid all-around interior defender, who plays with tremendous leverage, strength, burst, and lateral movements to effectively penetrate and stand his own against double teams.

Hicks has dealt with some injuries throughout his lengthy career and is currently aiding a groin issue, but it hasn’t hampered him enough to keep him off the field at a concerning rate.

While Hicks’ salary might seem a bit steep at $10.4 million, the Chargers possess the sufficient amount of funds to acquire him, currently with a bit of north of $12 million in cap space available.

Furthermore, the team has all of its draft picks available. For someone like Hicks, it may require a 2022 third-round and a future pick.

Unloading that type of capital on a player may draw some pause, but Los Angeles would be investing in the positional group, both short and long-term.

Not only would Hicks be able to step in from Day 1 and provide a significant boost up front, but he could be the replacement to Linval Joseph, who will be a free agent at the end of the season.

In addition, Justin Jones is set to hit the market, as well. Therefore, the position will likely sit atop the priority list.

Sitting with a 3-2 record, the only likely scenario where the Bears would want to let go of Hicks is if they find themselves in a hole after their next three games against the Packers, Buccaneers, and 49ers.

But if Chicago is willing to part ways with the veteran ahead of the trade deadline on Nov. 2, general manager Tom Telesco would be wise to field a phone call.

If it does not come to fruition, Hicks is a name worth monitoring next offseason since he will be a free agent.