The Pewter Plank
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5 Buccaneers who probably won’t be back now that Tom Brady has retired

By Josh Hill

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 16: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hands the ball off to Leonard Fournette #7 during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on January 16, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 16: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hands the ball off to Leonard Fournette #7 during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on January 16, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 1: Akiem Hicks #96 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers attempts to recover a fumble during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 1: Akiem Hicks #96 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers attempts to recover a fumble during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on January 1, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) /

DE. player. 48. Pick Analysis. Age: 33. Expiring Contract: 1 yr/$8M. Akiem Hicks. Scouting Report

Hicks leaving the Bucs shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, as he fell into the Julio Jones category of mercenaries trying to capitalize on Tom Brady’s final year in the league.

Last season didn’t go as planned for anyone, and Hicks lost a bet that he’d be heading into this offseason with a Super Bowl ring. Instead, he heads into free agency looking for what he couldn’t find in Tampa Bay and he’s going to have some intriguing options.

Hicks could hitch his wagon to another future Hall of Famer in Green Bay. If Aaron Rodgers decides to return to the Packers, Hicks could add some much-needed defensive line help. Green Bay’s defense cratered when it lost Rashan Gary to a torn ACL, and having Hicks around could negate some of the effects should the Packers defense suffer blows like that in the future. He’s also an old NFC North vet, so Hicks knows the competition and could fit right in.

The Ravens love guys like Hicks, who doesn’t need to start every game but feels like the type of veteran addition that John Harbaugh makes and then watches as he has an impact. Ditto for the Kansas City Chiefs, who watched their rookies make a big impact on defense this year but could use depth from a guy like Hicks to make it an even more unfair front to play against.

Potential Landing Spots: Packers, Chiefs, Ravens

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