Five Bears who have the most to gain in 2017

3. Akiem Hicks

Hicks has been an asset on defense since his career started in 2012. However, his 2016 season with the Bears was his best since entering the NFL. This is definitely good news for Bears fans, as he was a key signing of the Ryan Pace regime. This is also great news for Hicks, who signed just a two-year last season. He now enters another year of free agency before the age of 30.

Hicks is only 28 years old. If he has another season where he plays in all

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sixteen games and puts up numbers close to seven sacks with his run stuffing help he can earn himself a contract potentially longer than two years.

Whether he signs a one-year, two-year, or three-year deal, Hicks is going to make more money next season than he will this season if he can do what he did in 2016 in 2017. Watch for Hicks attempt to build off of his last season and put up even better numbers in an attempt to earn himself a substantial, headline-grabbing contract.