Chicago Bears

Akiem Hicks leaves Patriots for Bears, agreeing to 2-year deal

Published Mar. 14, 2016 12:52 a.m. ET

foxsports

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears agreed to terms with free-agent defensive lineman Akiem Hicks on a two-year contract Sunday.

The 6-foot-5, 324-pound Hicks has made 33 starts in 61 games in four seasons with the New Orleans Saints (2012-15) and New England Patriots (2015). He has 140 tackles, 9 1/2 sacks, 22 tackles for losses, 23 quarterback hits, a forced fumble and an a fumble recovery for a touchdown. In four postseason games, he has 10 tackles.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace was in New Orleans' front office in 2012 when the Saints drafted Hicks in the third round out of the University of Regina in Saskatchewan.