New England Patriots Throwback: Letting Akiem Hicks walk a big mistake
The New England Patriots made a big mistake when they let Akiem Hicks walk in free agency.
Every offseason, each NFL team including our own New England Patriots, has to make key decisions on their own free agents that are fraught with peril. Sign them at an agreed upon price – or don’t sign, that is the question.
This offseason, a fellow named Tom Brady (and maybe the Patriots, as well) will be making a decision that will dramatically impact the future of the Patriots’ quarterback position, both short and longer term.
But as dramatic as this particular player’s decision is and as impactful as it will be for the Patriots, other players’ leaving also impacts the team – if to a much lesser degree, of course. In fact, some are very impactful. One that comes to mind of relatively recent vintage, is the departure of then Patriots’ defensive tackle Akeem Hicks for greener pastures in Chicago.
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Pro Football Reference notes Hicks as 6’4″ tall, and 352 pounds, born November 16, 1989 (therefore was 26 years old in the prime of his career, I might add) and records that Hicks played in 13 games for New England in 2015 racking up 3 sacks, 7 quarterback hits and 23 total tackles. Nice.
They list him as a defensive end but I remember him as more of an inside player. And he was a really good inside player. And a worthy successor to Vince Wilfork.
Doug Kyed of NESN reports that Hicks came over from New Orleans in a trade for Michael Hoomanwanui. Talk about a major fleecing! Pro Football Reference cites Akiem Hick’s sack production in Chicago in 2016, 2017 and 2018 as: 7, 8.5 and 7.5 sacks. Wow!
For those of us who remember that 2015 season, it’s hard to forget the dominant force that Akiem Hicks was in the interior of the New England Patriots defensive line. He clearly was a player who was worth a solid investment by the Patriots. I thought Hicks was great then and was very disappointed that the Pats couldn’t see that and didn’t re-sign him.
To make you feel even worse, Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com reported
"Hicks joined the Bears in 2016 on a two-year, $10 million deal following a three-year stint with the New Orleans Saints and half of a season in New England. In his first year with Chicago, Hicks had the best season of his career, compiling 54 total tackles and seven sacks."
Five million dollars per – for a terrific interior defensive lineman?
That’s a no-brainer in my view. Well, since that mistake, the New England Patriots have been trying to replace Hick’s production at the interior defensive line position – and they haven’t come close to succeeding.
Next. New England Patriots: Selecting All-Decade team 2010-2020. dark
Hindsight is 20′ 20′ – but Hicks ability was clear, even to us fans. Why not to the New England Patriots?
“You get what you pay for”, as they say. But, in this case, the Patriots didn’t get what they should have paid for – and have paid the price ever since.
Clearly Akiem Hicks is one who got away – who shouldn’t have.