Back in 2015, Akiem Hicks was traded from the New Orleans Saints to the New England Patriots. Going from Drew Brees to Tom Brady as your quarterback is quite a luxury for a defensive player. Now, he has joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and will have a chance to compete for a Super Bowl with Brady once again.

Not only does it mean you are going to win a lot, but their ability to control the game will also have a positive impact. Hicks experienced that for 13 regular season games and two postseason games before hitting free agency.

In free agency, he signed with the Chicago Bears, where he has spent the last six seasons. Hicks was very productive throughout his tenure in Chicago, cementing his status as one of the best defensive tackles in the league.

This offseason, he signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hoping to contend once again. For the second time in his career, he will have Brady leading his team’s offense and it is something that he feels spoiled for, especially with how things went at the quarterback position the last six seasons in Chicago.

“Something I’ve thought of often is that when I came into the league I had Drew Brees and Tom Brady as my first two quarterbacks,” Hicks said, via the team’s website. “And then I went to Chicago – it wasn’t Drew Brees and Tom Brady, let me say that, right? I feel spoiled to have somebody on the other side of the ball that can deliver all the time, and he’s proven it over the years.”

Hicks is going from a rebuilding Bears team, which projects to be one of the worst in the NFL this season, to a Buccaneers team that will be contending for another Super Bowl title. Hicks appeared in only two playoff games during his Chicago tenure and is hoping that his Tampa Bay one provides at least that and more.

If he can remain healthy, the Buccaneers are getting a great player for their defensive line to help replace the losses of Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul, who both remain free agents.