Akiem Hicks Sees Two Teammates Having Big Years in 2018

The Chicago Bears know they need their best players to step up in 2018 to make sure they get off on the right foot. Akiem Hicks is near the top of that list. He was brilliant last season, collecting seven sacks and easily being their most dominant defensive presence. However, just the good players from last year playing well won't cut it. After all, the Bears finished 5-11 so that's not going to be enough. They need other names to take the next step up. Who will that be? That's a game for educated guessers to play. Everybody has their theories. Most are centered around Mitch Trubisky for obvious reasons. Almost every notable move made by the team to this point was to his benefit in some fashion. Matt Nagy hired as head coach. Allen Robinson signed at wide receiver. However, ask Hicks about this and the defensive leader might have a different answer. While he too is excited about his young quarterback, he has other names in mind for who could be ready to step into the spotlight this season.

Akiem Hicks sees big years from Leonard Floyd and Nick Kwiatkoski

Hicks is a smart guy. He knows what good football looks like, having played in New Orleans and New England before Chicago. So his opinion on this matter is worth hearing. It's also worth reminding that he's a defender at heart. He was bred to hate offensive guys. So is it any surprise that his choices for breakout players were both on defense?

[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Leonard-Floyds-2-Sacks-w-Safety-🙏-Vikings-vs.-Bears-Wk-5-Player-Highlights.mp4"][/video] It felt like Floyd was on the cusp of breaking out over the past two years but injuries got in the way. Last year he had 4.5 sacks in six games but hurting his knee that ended his season. As a rookie, he had 4.5 sacks in three games in late October and early November before a concussion against the Giants slowed him down. One can imagine he's frustrated and carrying a bit of a chip on his shoulder. That's good. It means he'll come into 2018 with a purpose. Hicks believes the same can be said for fellow front seven teammate Nick Kwiatkoski.

The case for him is a bit different. He didn't come in with high expectations like Floyd. He was a fourth round pick in 2016 who was expected to play a reserve role and perhaps work his way into the starting lineup. Though he saw the field quite a bit his first two years, he was unable to maintain a grip on the starting job when opportunities came. Now the competition has vanished. Jerrell Freeman was cut. Christian Jones left to sign in Detroit. Unless the Bears draft somebody high, it looks like Kwiatkoski finally has his shot. He got experience now. If he can stay healthy it might indeed be a big year for him.