Arkush: Do the Bears have more than we think in this free agent class?
Former Bears GM Ryan Pace's free agent acquisition of Akiem Hicks in his second year on the job is often cited as one of the NFL's best free agent signings of the last decade or so.
Hicks spent his first four years in the league with the Saints and Patriots after being drafted in the 3rd round with the 89th overall pick, and showed flashes of being a special player his second year in New Orleans.
But his impact and production dwindled after that. The Saints sent him to the Patriots in Week 4 of the 2015 season for forgettable tight end Michael Hoomanawanui and, after failing to earn a start in the Pats' final 13 games, Hicks became a free agent.
Having served as New Orleans' director of player personnel, Pace believed he knew things about Hicks others didn't, and Hicks exploded in Chicago over the next three seasons with 23 sacks, 38 tackles for loss and 7 forced fumbles, including 5 in 2018.
Injuries hampered his last three seasons, but Hicks showed in Week 15 this past season against the Vikings that, when healthy, he is still one of the most dominant interior defenders in the league with 5 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 tackles for loss and 3 QB hurries.
So, is there another Hicks in new GM Ryan Poles' first class of free agents which, to date, includes Lucas Patrick, Nicholas Morrow, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Justin Jones, Byron Pringle and Equanimeous St. Brown?
Patrick and St. Brown probably wouldn't be here without the stamp of approval from offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who worked with them as the passing game coordinator in Green Bay.
Muhammad started all 17 games for Matt Eberflus last year in Indianapolis and totaled 6 sacks, 7 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Pringle has spent his entire career with Poles in Kansas City and, while there is no direct connection to Morrow, he professed his ultimate respect and fondness Friday for one of Eberflus' chief mentors, Rod Marinelli.
Only Jones has no obvious connection to this new Bears regime.
Having studied their career arcs, while these free agents can be productive contributors for the Bears, there is nothing to suggest there may be more than that lurking in Patrick, Pringle or St. Brown.
But Morrow, Muhammad and Jones are interesting.
Morrow is an outstanding athlete who arrived in the NFL as an undrafted, 216-pound rookie free agent out of Division III Greenville University, the only school to recruit him out of high school.
Based almost strictly on his speed, power and attitude, Morrow started five, five, eight and 11 games his first four seasons and was one of the Raiders' best in pass coverage before missing all of 2021 with an ankle injury.
Lining up next to Roquan Smith, who will command the bulk of opposing offense's attention, it would not be at all surprising if he emerges as a tackling machine.
Muhammad was a 6th-round pick of the Saints, but suited up for only four games his rookie year. He was then picked up by the Colts, but started just eight games in his first three seasons before starting all 17 last season.
Eberflus' Colts pass rush was by committee, with no special talent for offenses to target, but should Robert Quinn still be here in September it's highly likely Muhammad will flourish even more with Quinn's presence on the other side.
Jones, Poles' second choice after Larry Ogunjobi failed his physical, is another wild card who - while he has no straight-line connection - did face Poles' Chiefs seven times with five starts. He has also battled injuries every year he's been in the league and has never lined up consistently at the 3-technique, which he will in Chicago.
Should he stay healthy, Jones' ceiling is high.
Unfortunately, none of the three play wide receiver or offensive line, and another Hicks is an awfully tall order.
But there are reasons to believe one, two or all three of these young men can be more than placeholders to create cap space, and they could even be impactful starters when the Bears are ready to compete again - whether that's in 2023 or even 2024.