NFL trade rumors: Jonathan Stewart for Hakeem Nicks is perfect deal

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Oct 21, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (88) pleads for a pass interference call in the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Mills/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports /

Carolina General Manager Dave Gettleman came over from the Giants’ front office, so there is a connection between the two teams, making this trade more realistic than many of the many you’ll see bantered about over the coming days.

Nicks would be a tremendous addition, and it won’t be costly to let Stewart go with Mike Tolbert and current starter DeAngelo Williams playing well. And they wouldn’t be trading a player who they’ve had this year, as he was placed on the PUP before the season following surgery on the right ankle.

The PUP list requires players to miss the first six weeks of the regular season before they are eligible to return and thus count against the 53-man roster, but the team does expect him to play this Sunday after returning to practice last week:

For the first time since injuring his ankle last season, RB @Jonathanstewar1 has returned to practice! #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/vqsvvRrqRe
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 22, 2013

At the end of the day, it would be a risky move for the Panthers to part ways with Stewart, but it would be worth it in terms of upgrading the passing offense while sacrificing little production in the running game.

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