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.
Akiem Hicks using the guard to tackle the running back. Totally normal. pic.twitter.com/xO9gUHAPE2
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) October 20, 2020
Akiem Hicks is a damn freight train pic.twitter.com/YSTlmXuLzs
— Red Line Radio (@RedLineRadio) September 20, 2020
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.