Broncos should make a free-agent play for this former Pro Bowler
The Denver Broncos could still make some noise in free agency before the NFL Draft at the end of the month.
Though free agency around the league has slowed to a steady trickle, there are still plenty of big-name players waiting to see where their careers will take them next. One of those players is veteran Akiem Hicks.
The Broncos were able to sign Dj Jones through free agency but the defensive line is still a bit thin with Shelby Harris being included in the trade to acquire Russell Wilson. DJ Jones and Dre’Mont Jones seem to be sure starters, but beyond that, the Broncos have a bunch of role players.
Akiem Hicks makes a lot of sense for the Broncos
The 32-year old Hicks is likely just a role player at this stage in his 10-year career, but he is a big step above the likes of DeShawn Williams, Mike Purcell and McTelvin Agim in terms of overall talent.
The former third-round pick of the New Orleans Saints out of the University of Regina in Saskatchewan in Canada played for the Chicago Bears for the past six seasons and was a tremendous free-agent addition when he came there in 2016.
A Pro-Bowl selection in 2018, Hicks has 387 career tackles to go with 40.5 sacks. He could offer the Broncos invaluable experience and a good amount of play-making ability that they just don’t have within the depth of the defensive line.
Though NFL.com had Hicks ranked as its No.33 free agent entering this offseason, the fact that he is still available likely speaks to a shrinking market, or one that may not have been that big, to begin with. That could be due to a couple of factors, mainly his age and his potential asking price.
Last season, Hicks’ contract paid him $10.4 million for the year, the second-highest on the entire Bears roster behind only Allen Robinson. He will have to accept a drastically reduced contract to continue his playing career, but if George Paton could work out such a deal, it makes a lot of sense to bring Hicks to the Mile High City.
light. Related Story. Which free agents slipped by the Broncos?
According to Over the Cap, the Broncos still have about $14.4 million in available cap space but they will also need to sign their incoming rookie class. The team may have to get creative or perhaps find some dead weight to move in order to create more cap room, but the defensive line is going to need some more depth.