Patriots want to bring back Akiem Hicks

[patsinthesnow]

@MarkDanielsPJ
The Patriots have shown interest in bringing Akiem Hicks back next season, per source.

Slow news until free agency so figured I'd post it.

Similar to Alan Branch in that he shows bursts of dominance. I think he's worth 3 years 10-11 million, similar to what the Packers DT just received.

 

[Sicilian]

 

[RobertWeathers]

@MarkDanielsPJ
The Patriots have shown interest in bringing Akiem Hicks back next season, per source.

Slow news until free agency so figured I'd post it.

Similar to Alan Branch in that he shows bursts of dominance. I think he's worth 3 years 10-11 million, similar to what the Packers DT just received.

They goddamn better show interest.

The kid can flat-out play.

 

[JackBauer]

Brown
Hicks
Easley
Branch

Not bad.

 

[IllegalContact]

If they re-sign him, I would be like

 

[BlueThunder]

Someoe has WAAAYYYY too much time on his hands to find a gif like THAT !!

 

[RobertWeathers]

Brown
Hicks
Easley
Branch

Not bad.

Supposedly the draft is deep at DE/DT as well. It would not surprise me if they picked up a DT the was best available in the early rounds and let Branch move on and save some dough. With that said I like Branch right here.

 

[Guts]

Supposedly the draft is deep at DE/DT as well. It would not surprise me if they picked up a DT the was best available in the early rounds and let Branch move on and save some dough. With that said I like Branch right here.

Same here and with the loss of Mayo, a strong veteran presence can keep the locker room in unity.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Will still probably test eh market..but i hope so

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Brown
Hicks
Easley
Branch

Not bad.

Don't forget Chris Jones, who can also contribute especially on passing downs.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Same here and with the loss of Mayo, a strong veteran presence can keep the locker room in unity.

Yes. I forget where I had read it but the writer indicated that Branch was a solid influence with Easley and Brown and was big help in getting Hicks up to speed.

In the end it always comes down to performance and value but seems like Branch has found a home here.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Don't forget Chris Jones, who can also contribute especially on passing downs.

Absolutely but of the four players mentioned, Jones is #5. Seal is #6.

Kitchen is still on the roster as well.

DT really isn't a problem for this team....

 

[Ross12]

Absolutely but of the four players mentioned, Jones is #5. Seal is #6.

Kitchen is still on the roster as well.

DT really isn't a problem for this team....

They're actually doing pretty okay in the post-Wilfork era. I'm a little surprised.

 

[RobertWeathers]

They're actually doing pretty okay in the post-Wilfork era. I'm a little surprised.

Yep. Whats incredible is all four of the players mentioned were acquired during and after the 2014 draft.

Talk about rebuilding on the fly...

 

[Ross12]

Yep. Whats incredible is all four of the players mentioned were acquired during and after the 2014 draft.

Talk about rebuilding on the fly...

Yeah, really! "Oh, we're losing Wilfork who's getting old anyway? NBD we'll just nab Easley low in the first due to injury concerns, we'll draft Brown after the Colts inexplicably pass on him, trade for Hicks for a woefully average TE2, and easily acquire Branch because he drank too much in Buffalo (who doesn't?)"

 

[JMC00]

Will still probably test eh market..but i hope so

Or he likes NE and they work out a deal before March 7th

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Yeah, really! "Oh, we're losing Wilfork who's getting old anyway? NBD we'll just nab Easley low in the first due to injury concerns, we'll draft Brown after the Colts inexplicably pass on him, trade for Hicks for a woefully average TE2, and easily acquire Branch because he drank too much in Buffalo (who doesn't?)"

I'm waiting for the other draft penalty shoe to drop from the NYJFL when they find Patriots interns off-season supplying opposing players with cases of fine single malt beverages

 

[Deus Irae]

Yeah, really! "Oh, we're losing Wilfork who's getting old anyway? NBD we'll just nab Easley low in the first due to injury concerns, we'll draft Brown after the Colts inexplicably pass on him, trade for Hicks for a woefully average TE2, and easily acquire Branch because he drank too much in Buffalo (who doesn't?)"

The Easley pick's been a bad one, to date. Health was an issue before he was drafted, and it's been an issue in both seasons since. Some other players the Patriots could have taken soon after that pick:

Bradley Roby (Patriots could certainly have used a CB)
Bridgewater (Patriots took JAG at the end of round 2)
Tuitt (Now a DL starter for Pitt)

Obviously, there's still time for Easley to pan out, but he's got to stay on the field in order to any chance of doing that.

 

[supafly]

Yes. I forget where I had read it but the writer indicated that Branch was a solid influence with Easley and Brown and was big help in getting Hicks up to speed.

In the end it always comes down to performance and value but seems like Branch has found a home here.

Considering the fact that Branch started 17/18 games this year, while Hicks only racked up 27 percent of the defensive reps, I think it's safe to say that the club seems to value Branch's role.

 

[manxman2601]

The Easley pick's been a bad one, to date. Health was an issue before he was drafted, and it's been an issue in both seasons since. Some other players the Patriots could have taken soon after that pick:

Bradley Roby (Patriots could certainly have used a CB)
Bridgewater (Patriots took JAG at the end of round 2)
Tuitt (Now a DL starter for Pitt)

Obviously, there's still time for Easley to pan out, but he's got to stay on the field in order to any chance of doing that.

Like you I was a fan of Tuitt in the draft. The only thing I'd say is that he's a 3-4 DE. How well he'd do playing a 1 or 3 tech is debatable as he never really played either at ND. Easley's injuries are certainly a concern but I'm not ready to call his pick a bad one yet. When he's healthy he's a very disruptive player.