Vikings UFA profile: LB Jordan Hicks

With the 2023 season in the books, Inside the Vikings is taking a look at all 22 of Minnesota's pending unrestricted free agents over the course of a few weeks. We're examining their past and speculating about their future, particularly the likelihood that they could be re-signed by the Vikings this offseason. We started from the least important (Hakeem Adeniji) and are working our way up to the big fish (Kirk Cousins).

Vikings UFA profile: LB Jordan Hicks

Age: 31
2023 stats: 13 games, 107 tackles, 4 TFL, 5 PD, 2 FR, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 sack
2023 contract AAV: $3.5 million

Jordan Hicks has been one of the leaders of the Vikings' defense, both on and off the field, during the first two years of the Kevin O'Connell era. In 2022, he started all 18 games (including playoffs) under Ed Donatell and racked up 129 tackles, ten passes defended, and three sacks. Hicks agreed to a restructured deal last offseason and was even better in the first year of Brian Flores' tenure, earning a 74.5 PFF grade that was his best mark since 2018. That grade ranked 21st out of the 66 inside linebackers who played at least 500 snaps in 2023. He's an experienced, well-rounded LB who can effectively cover, tackle, defend the run, and blitz the quarterback.

Hicks was named NFC defensive player of the week after recording an interception and a fumble return touchdown in a road win over the Bears in October. A month later, his season took a scary turn when he took a blow to the leg against the Saints and developed compartment syndrome. Thankfully, he was rushed to the hospital for an emergency procedure. After missing the requisite four games while on injured reserve, he was able to play in the final three games of the season. That tells you quite about who he is as a player and leader.

Originally drafted out of Texas in the third round back in 2015, Hicks will play his tenth NFL season this year. It's just unclear where that'll be. The veteran played four seasons with the Eagles, three with the Cardinals, and now the last two with the Vikings. A return to Minnesota could make sense at the right price. During Hicks' absence, Ivan Pace Jr. proved he can handle the green dot responsibilities, so the Vikings could also look to replace Hicks via in-house options (Brian Asamoah II?) or external additions. It's worth noting that Troy Dye, Anthony Barr, and Nick Vigil are also unrestricted free agents.

Previous Vikings UFA profiles: