Jordan Hicks – ILB
Jordan Hicks was someone the Vikings added during free agency in 2022 to improve their experience and leadership on the defensive side of the ball. But after just one season, Minnesota would be better off without Hicks on their roster in 2023.
He was actually pretty solid as a run defender last season, but in a league that is passing the ball more and more frequently each year, his struggles in pass coverage are extremely concerning.
Among qualifying linebackers last season, Hicks’ pass-coverage grade from PFF ranked 57th, his passer rating allowed (119.1) ranked 67th, and his completion percentage allowed ranked 30th. At 30-years-old, it’s pretty hard to believe that his abilities in pass coverage are going to get any better moving forward in his career.
Hicks still has one year left on his current contract. However, the Vikings can cut him this offseason and create $5 million in much-needed cap space. With a younger and cheaper Brian Asamoah waiting in the wings, there aren’t a whole lot of reasons for Minnesota to keep Hicks around for the 2023 season.