5 free agents who the Cardinals should target in 2022
By Jim Koch
Akiem Hicks – DL
The Cardinals’ ability to stop the run was severely weakened when Watt was lost to a shoulder injury in week seven. Akiem Hicks of the Chicago Bears could help with that and a whole lot more if Keim pursued the 6-foot-5, 324-pounder next spring.
Veteran nose tackle Corey Peters will also enter free agency next offseason, and may not be asked to return. Arizona still has young defensive linemen like Zach Allen, Leki Fotu, and Rashard Lawrence in the mix, but an experienced addition like Hicks would be invaluable.
Hicks is in the final campaign of a four-year, $48 million extension he signed with the Bears back in 2017. The 32-year-old, a Pro Bowl selection in 2018, was originally a third-round draft choice of the New Orleans Saints back in 2012.