Carolina Panthers should trade for New York Giants WR Hakeem Nicks
By Jason Marcum
It’s no surprise that teams are trying to offer little to the 0-6 Giants, who are probably on the verge of calling 2013 a rebuild year and selling off their assets for whatever they can get. The Oct. 29 trade deadline is two weeks away, and there’s increasing speculation that Nicks, in the last year of his contract, could be on his way out.
Nicks acknowledged that he’s heard the rumors:
"“I’m a Giant, and I love playing for the Giants,” he said. “I haven’t been getting any whiff of anything like that (trade talk). I’m a Giant right now, and I’m going to enjoy it, and we’ve got to start winning games.”"
The Giants are in a bind and may not be able to afford Nicks, who could seek a deal even larger than the five-year, $43-million contract Victor Cruz signed this offseason.
On the field, it already looks the Giants are preparing for life after Nicks. Eli Manning made second-year wide receiver Rueben Randle a significant part of the passing game, as he’s targeted the second-year receiver 43 times to Nicks’ 46 and Cruz’s 60. With Nicks seemingly getting less targets, it will be easier to replace if they do decide to trade him in the next two weeks.