Some Added Clarity on Jordan Hicks’ Adjusted Deal
Ben Goessling, one of the best in the business, comes through yet again with some more crucial information. Earlier this morning, The Star Tribune writer relayed the salary cap information for Jordan Hicks’ adjusted deal.
Take a peak:
Prior to agreeing to the new deal, Hicks was going to account for a $6.5 million cap hit on the 2023 budget. Not astronomical but also far from the bottom, Hicks’ deal was a true middle class NFL contract.
As he has done all offseason, though, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been injecting more flexibility into the budget. The most notable decision, of course, rested in the surprising and controversial decision to slash $16 million off of Kirk Cousins’ cap hit (a move that simply shifts that money into 2024 if the contract voids).
Removing $1.5 million from the linebacker’s cap charge represents a considerably less eye-popping decision. Nevertheless, the broader point remains: Adofo-Mensah is gearing up for 2023 contention without forfeiting his desire for success in 2024 and beyond.
Currently, the best guess is that Hicks will reclaim a starting position on defense. Since Eric Kendricks is no longer in town, the other linebacker could very well be Brian Asamoah. The soon-to-be sophomore has speed to spare, making him an appealing option to coaches and fans alike.
Of course, plenty of time remains to sign free agents, especially when we remember that the team still has a lot of cost-cutting possibilities.
Last season, Hicks had 129 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 TFLs, 1 FF, 1 INT, and 10 PDs. Strangely, the veteran LB was only sent on 17 blitzes – an average of once a game – even though he has previously blitzed much more. Look for Brian Flores to allow his LB to be more aggressive in the upcoming season.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
