Would not have lost sleep if they had just released Hicks. But if the money is low the thinking is probably that he's experienced depth at a position where we just don't have much.
Good move, gets us closer to cap compliance and leaves us with a starter at ILB if we miss out on Edmunds in FA. If we get Edmunds, we can always cut Hicks or keep him as low cost depth.
I would not have lost sleep either if he walked...His best days are behind him, but Flores must have given the thumbs-up under the right $$ circumstances.