Vikings Roster Countdown: No. 58 Jordan Hicks — Steady Leader, Starting LB

Hicks restructured his deal this offseason to remain in Minnesota for another year.

Will Ragatz | Jul 28, 2023

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Minnesota Vikings

Ahead of the Vikings' 2023 preseason, we'll be taking a look at every player on the 90-man roster, counting down from 99 to 0 (excluding the UDFAs, who we've already profiled). For every player, we'll look at the best and worst-case scenarios and their realistic outlook for the upcoming season.

No. 58: Jordan Hicks, LB

Age: 31 | Size: 6'1", 236

Jordan Hicks took a $1.5 million pay cut this offseason to remain with the Vikings for another year. That's how much he enjoyed his first season in Minnesota — and how excited he is for what's to come under new coordinator Brian Flores. Hicks started all 17 games for the Vikings a year ago, earning strong PFF marks as a tackler and run defender with some struggles in pass coverage. He's locked in this year as the team's No. 1 linebacker and will be a key player and leader on Flores' first Vikings defense.

After a huge senior season at the University of Texas, Hicks was selected by the Eagles in the third round of the 2015 draft. He spent four seasons there and three with the Arizona Cardinals before joining the Vikings last offseason. Hicks, who has been active for 72 consecutive games (including playoffs) dating back to 2018, has 109 career starts under his belt. Although the best football of his career came in his younger years in Philadelphia, he's a still a very steady presence in the middle of a defensive front. He stuffed the stat sheet last season with 129 tackles, three sacks, ten passes defended, an interception, and a forced fumble.

With Eric Kendricks gone, Hicks will have a new linebacker partner this season, most likely exciting second-year player Brian Asamoah.

Best-case scenario: Hicks, who turned 31 this summer, shines in Flores' defense as a playmaker and leader. He turns back the clock and has one of the most productive seasons of his career.

Worst-case scenario: The years seem to catch up to Hicks in 2023, as he appears a step slow — think Kendricks and Anthony Barr late in their Vikings tenures — and struggles to play at a high level.

Outlook for 2023: Realistically, Hicks should fall somewhere in the middle of those two extremes. He's a smart, experienced linebacker who still has the juice to make plenty of plays, but it's unlikely he ever returns to the borderline elite level he played at on his rookie contract in Philly. It's going to be interesting to see how quickly he adapts to Flores' aggressive style of defense.

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