Notable Rival Remains in NFC
K. Joudry
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By this point, most Vikings fans know Akiem Hicks as the Bears DT who commonly made life exceedingly difficult for Minnesota’s overmatched offensive line. Up until recently, he was a free agent, and some even speculated that he could be a nice fit for the Vikings.
Instead, Hicks has put pen to paper with the Buccaneers:
The Buccaneers have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with veteran defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. The contract is worth “up to” $10 million.
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Hicks joined the Bears in 2016. He was a third-round pick of the Saints in 2012. He spent part of the 2015 season with the Patriots, following a trade from New Orleans.
Obviously, $10 million is a lot, especially at this stage in the offseason. One wonders what kind of incentives are in place to make that number attainable. It’s very plausible that reaching the contract’s full potential is exceedingly difficult. Minnesota likely felt that they couldn’t match that number.
Fans who were hoping that Hicks would fortify the DL will now need to redirect their hope toward players currently on the roster. Dalvin Tomlinson is the starting nose tackle. Harrison Phillips and Armon Watts will play alongside Tomlinson when the Vikings are in their base defense.
Tampa Bay – already one of the NFL’s top Super Bowl contenders – now boasts an even stronger defense. Thankfully, the Vikings don’t have the Bucs on the schedule in 2022. If everything goes very well, perhaps the Vikings will get a chance to play their old nemesis in the NFC Championship Game.
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