Vikings won’t be signing a fan-favorite free-agent target

Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks is someone that a number of Minnesota Vikings fans wanted their team to pursue in free agency.

For the last few years, the Minnesota Vikings have been tormented by Pro Bowl defensive lineman Akiem Hicks whenever it comes time to face the Chicago Bears.

Well, the Vikings no longer have to worry about going up against Hicks in their matchups with the Bears next season as he has reportedly agreed to a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers according to multiple reports.

Heading into free agency this offseason, Hicks was actually someone that a good amount of Minnesota fans wanted their team to pursue. But instead of reuniting with his former defensive assistant in current Vikings defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, the veteran defensive lineman has decided to reunite with a former teammate of his in Tom Brady.

Did former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks sign a contract the Minnesota Vikings couldn’t afford?

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the one-year contract that Hicks signed with the Bucs is worth up to $10 million. The deal is likely incentive-based and the $10 million figure is something that is probably only attainable if all of the incentives are met in the contract.

Hicks‘ cap number in 2022 likely won’t be $10 million, but let’s just say it was. His deal with Tampa is definitely one that Minnesota could have afforded.

According to OverTheCap.com, the Vikings currently have just over $11 million in cap space, which means that they have enough to afford the contract Hicks just got from the Bucs.

Perhaps Minnesota actually made an attempt to sign the veteran defensive lineman this offseason and he just decided to pursue other offers. Picking the team led by Brady that will be competing for a Super Bowl in 2022 over a Vikings team that might not even make the playoffs next season probably wasn’t a difficult decision to make.

Even though they weren’t able to sign him this year, at least Minnesota won’t have to worry about facing Hicks next season unless they take on the Bucs in the playoffs.