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The Chicago Bears have signed defensive end Akiem Hicks to a four-year, $48 million extension, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal will also include $30 million in guarantees.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that an extension would be completed within the day, and just one minute later, the news of an official extension broke. This signing comes just three hours after the Pittsburgh Steelers re-signed Stephon Tuitt to a similar deal.
Hicks, who turns 28 this November, was scheduled to become a free agent after the end of the 2017 season. He is coming off of the best season of his career, notching seven sacks and 54 tackles with the Bears last year.
Chicago signed him to a two-year, $10 million contract back in March of 2016, and it’s clear that he outplayed that value. With one of their best defensive players now locked in for the long run, the Bears’ defense has potential to be scary for years to come.