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There was buzz about the possibility for an extension for Hicks at the outset of training camp and certainly part of that was the presence of the Miami-based Rosenhaus on campus at Olivet Nazarene University not once, but twice. Bourbonnais is a mighty long way from South Beach and Rosenhaus being there led to speculation he could be hammering out a deal for Hicks, who he added as a client over the summer. Reality is the vast majority of contracts don’t involve face-to-face sitdowns and it was surely an opportunity for Rosenhaus to be visible and potentially attract future clients. That being said, two sources said Hicks and Rosenhaus are aiming big right now. Why not? Hicks is coming off a season with 71 tackles (fourth on the defense) and seven sacks and is 27 years old (turns 28 in November) meaning he will be hitting free agency at the end of the season in the prime of his career. You don’t find players that profile like Hicks — listed at 6-foot-5, 332 pounds, with athletic ability — very often.

What’s aiming big these days? It would not be surprising if Rosenhaus was trying to piggyback off the deal he recently completed with the Titans for defensive tackle Jurrell Casey. That means $15 million per season. The player should always start high when seeking a new deal in order to maximize his earning potential and that would put Hicks in a range with the highest-paid defensive linemen in the NFL. Casey’s extension, which was completed at the start of training camp, actually averages $15.1 million per season. There are 11 defensive linemen with deals averaging $15 million or more. Besides Curry, the list includes Ndamukong Suh, Muhammad Wilkerson, Fletcher Cox, Olivier Vernon, J.J. Watt, Kawann Short, Marcell Dareus, Gerald McCoy, Jason Pierre-Paul and Calais Campbell.

DaDitka wrote:I LOVE Hicks and IMO he's been arguably the best player on the Bears roster since he signed here.

But I've always been against giving big bodies on the defensive line big contracts and I'm not about to change my mind now.

Go back at look at EVERY defensive lineman's multi year deal signed in the last 6 - 7 years and what percentage of them turn out to be good or even 'fair'? .... I'd be very surprised if even 20% of them are viewed as even 'OK' heading into their third season.

Yes...I'm totally convinced that Hicks is the exception.....but deep down I also know that he' s far - far more likely to not be that exception.

karhu wrote:We've had him cheap, and we should keep him dear. He's easily our best player, and at last that's not damnation with faint praise.

He would've been New England's best defender, too, if they'd kept him. But they couldn't, on account of winning all those games and Super Bowls. When we're in the same position, we can worry about the cost of extending our best players. But for now, Hicks is too important to our defense's identity and to the development of players like Leonard Floyd--too important to our present and our future--to let him go unless he really wants to.

Besides, what else are we going to spend the money on? Extending Kyle Fuller? Or, at this point, Kyle Long for a mint? Kevin White? Strategic reserves of Dr. Weaselman's Fancy-Boy Moustache Wax for George McCaskey?

wab wrote:Eh, I can't get worked up about the money because it really depends on how the contract is structured.

Mikefive wrote:How about getting some quality WRs or CBs?

Otis Day wrote:Long is signed thru 2021. he is on the cheap this year. 2019 = $6.9 mil; 2020 = $8 mil and 2021 = $8.8 mil. This according to Sportrac.com

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bear ... ong-12300/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With his health, I don't address anything new. He will be 32 in 2021.