Chicago Bears: Akiem Hicks deserves a Pro Bowl nod

Despite the Chicago Bears having a tough season, Akiem Hicks deserves to make the Pro Bowl this year.

It can be hard to find many positives for the Chicago Bears, but defensive tackle Akiem Hicks has been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal season. In the past offseason, Hicks signed a four-year contract extension, and it seems like it was money well spent.

Hicks lead the team in sacks (7.0), and also has 44 total tackles and two forced fumbles. While he’s hit a bit of a dry spell in terms of sacks — he’s gone five games without one — Hicks continues to make a positive impact on this team, both on and off the field.

On the field, Hicks is a force to be reckoned with. He gets constantly double-teamed, leaving other players one-on-one opportunities. When Leonard Floyd was playing, the Bears ran a lot of tackle-end stunts, meaning Hicks would occupy two blockers while Floyd would slide over for the sack. Without Floyd, the Bears don’t have a pass rusher to effectively run stunts with Hicks, but that doesn’t mean Hicks has stopped drawing the offense’s complete attention.

Off the field, Hicks has been a veteran presence who seems to have embraced his role as one of the team’s captains. He’s taken players like Roy Robertson-Harris, Jonathan Bullard, and Eddie Goldman under his wing, and as mentioned, has been a big reason why Leonard Floyd had 4.5 sacks this season.

Unlike the MLB, in which every team is represented in the All-Star game, the Bears aren’t guaranteed to have anybody play in the Pro Bowl this year. However, Hicks has made an excellent case to make his first Pro Bowl this season. Most fans who vote only judge defensive linemen by their sack totals, but with Hicks, his complete game should be considered. He’s easily been the Bears most consistent defender, and he’s opened-up so many opportunities for his teammates.

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It would be great if Hicks saw his effort rewarded by a trip to the Pro Bowl. The game itself might not be great, but for the players, it’s a true honor to get in. Here’s hoping we see Hicks in Orlando come Jan. 28.