The Bears have the oldest roster in the NFL, and nearly half of their starting defense is 30 or older. It’s clear the window is closing for that group to be elite, and there have already been signs that it’s been slipping the last two seasons.
As the Bears try to stave off that decline, here are the five defenders fighting time on the wrong side of 30:
DT Akiem Hicks, 31
Hicks wants a contract extension as he prepares to play the final season of a four-year, $48 million deal. The Bears are going to be hesitant to spend big money on an 11th-year defensive tackle, but Hicks looks like he’s worth it.