This season, the Minnesota Vikings accepted a defensive rebuild by parting ways with several veterans and allowing younger guys to grow.
With multiple veterans on approaching contracts, this pattern is expected to continue next offseason.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks is one of those players, and according to Bleacher Report, he will leave Minnesota next season.
“The Vikings have a good young linebacker in Ivan Pace Jr., but Jordan Hicks and Troy Dye are impending free agents, so the position will be an offseason need,” according to Bleacher Report’s Week 9 Team Needs report.
Hicks dodged the chopping block last season as a more cheap veteran linebacker alternative than Eric Kendricks. Hicks has thrived in Brian Flores’ scheme, earning the 19th-best Pro Football Focus defensive grade (78.3) among qualifying inside linebackers this season. He was also appointed team captain despite being one of the squad’s most experienced players.
Hicks’ contract expires in February, and he will be 32 by the start of the 2024 season. He’s made $36.6 million in his career and might return for the right price.
However, much like most of the Vikings’ veterans in recent years, the organisation will only bring them back on their terms — and after discovering what they have in the undrafted rookie, Minnesota may look for an option that pairs better with Pace.
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