Is LA Rams WR Allen Robinson recruiting former teammate Akiem Hicks?

Hicks sticks in potential FA additions

The team had lost NT Sebastian Joseph Day. Why not bring in a solid defensive lineman? Don’t worry, we already have one of the Rams’ top players on it. Recently signed wide receiver Allen Robinson has wasted no time in dropping seeds on the trail to the LA Rams. Now, will it make sense for the LA Rams to consider Robinson’s former teammate from the Chicago Bears, Akiem Hicks?

Well, so far, the Rams have been rather aggressive, haven’t they? So why not add hicks, a veteran defensive lineman who has played 11 NFL seasons, but still is a dangerous player on the line of scrimmage.

Hicks’ last standout season was 2018, which is not so long ago.  In that year, he put up 7.5 quarterback sacks and 55 tackles, which was good enough to warrant his first and only nod to the Pro Bowl. But he has had several seasons with seven or more quarterback sacks.  And he’s had four seasons with 50 plus tackles.

His production dropped significantly in 2021 due to fighting through several nagging injuries. But all scrapes, bruises, and ouchies were relatively minor, and Hicks is expected to be fully healthy to start the 2022 NFL season.

A healthy Hicks can be a very productive Hicks. He can get to the quarterback, stuff the run, and control the line of scrimmage for linebackers to dart in and make the play. He is far easier to cheer for than to cheer against, and that’s not exaggerating. But the fit for the LA Rams will need to be worked out right upfront. To play in LA, however, he will need to be okay with the role, which is a rotational role coming off the bench. And the guy will need to play his heart out on every play.