Akiem Hicks Ranked Among Top 5 Defensive Linemen in NFL

It took far longer than it should've for Akiem Hicks to make his first Pro Bowl in 2018. He'd been playing good enough since back in 2016 to earn such an honor and he was outright snubbed in 2017. The Chicago Bears defensive end isn't bitter about that. He got his money and knows he's good. Though he was a bit irritated by his 87 rating from Madden.

As it turns out though, there are some notable experts out there who are big admirers of his. Specifically Andy Benoit and Gary Gramling of the MMQB. On their podcast, they decided to do a special ranking where they covered their choices for the top 10 defensive linemen currently in the NFL. To the surprise of nobody, Aaron Donald claimed the top spot.

Fletcher Cox was also fixed at #2. Where some people may have been a bit surprised was their choice for the 3rd place position. That being Hicks.

"Akiem Hicks. I went and visited with him a few weeks ago. We sat at Halas Hall, which is a beautiful place...He's one of my favorite players in the NFL and he has been for a while...I thought when that happened (Saints traded him to the Patriots) I thought, 'Akiem Hicks is going to become a household name.'

He played very well but the Saints were trying to make him a defensive end which was......wrong. We'll just be polite about it which is not even close. The Patriots said, 'No, you're more an interior defensive lineman...They played him at his right position and he played well...

...So Akiem Hicks went to the Bears with Ryan Pace, their GM, whom he knew from New Orleans. So I'm guessing Pace wasn't part of their original trade or the decision to play Akiem Hicks at the wrong position back in the Saints days."

Akiem Hicks proved the Saints wrong in so many ways

It's clear that both experts were baffled when the Saints decided to trade Hicks. Then again, given the history that the team has had under Sean Payton regarding defensive decisions? It shouldn't be a surprise. Yes, they have a Super Bowl title but one could easily argue that Payton's inability to find consistency on the other side of the ball has cost them multiple opportunities to win another.

Giving up a Pro Bowl defensive lineman for a backup tight end certainly has to rank up there.

Hicks has held it against them ever since. One can imagine he's more eager than anybody to play them this coming season. Chicago is expecting another big year from him. If he can produce at the same level he has the past three years and the rest of the defense follows? This team will be right back in the playoffs come next January. Maybe by that point the rest of the country will finally realize how good he is.